Latest Features
Interview Why Stylish PS5 Slasher Slave Zero X Could Be Essential for Fans of Action and 90s Anime
Seeing red
Slave Zero X first caught our eye last year, with a trailer that practically screamed cool 90s anime sh*t. Fortunately, the game was later confirmed for a PS5 and PS4 release (it's coming on the 21st February), and so we simply had to pick the brains of the people behind the project. We asked both publisher Ziggurat Interactive and...
Poll What Do You Think of the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Demo?
Keep Kalm
Released earlier this week, the highly anticipated demo for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gives us a glimpse of the game's opening chapter, in which Cloud recalls the time he and Sephiroth were sent to investigate the Nibelheim mako reactor. We happen to think it's a pretty strong start to what should be a great sequel, bit as always, it's your...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 515
Dive in
Well, this is something we didn't quite expect: everyone is obsessed with Helldivers 2. Seriously, if you'd told me even three days ago it'd outmuscle Suicide Squad, I never would have believed you. And yet, here we are. Aaron Bayne: I'm squadding up this weekend in Helldivers 2, which has already proven itself to be a lot of fun. It's...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Granblue Fantasy: Relink?
Was it worth the wait?
It's been about a week since Granblue Fantasy: Relink finally landed on PS5 and PS4. The action RPG released during an especially busy period — just after Tekken 8 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and just a day before Persona 3 Reload — but the positivity surrounding its arrival suggests that fans of the genre...
Feature Taipei's Biggest Gaming Convention Showcases the Best of Taiwan and Beyond
Loud and proud
Taipei’s blue-hued Bannan Line is always packed to bursting, as it’s the approximately 26-kilometre MRT line which ferries passengers to key city destinations like Ximen and Taipei Main Station, but it was abuzz with added enthusiasm late last month, as enthused gamers rode the train all the way through to its destination station...
Poll Which Xbox Franchises Would You Buy on PS5?
The big question
There’s strong speculation that some first-party Xbox franchises are being considered for release on the PS5. In some cases, the rumours are incredibly strong, like Hi-Fi Rush – which had a handful of in-game shirts datamined, clearly showing that a PlayStation port is on the way. In other instances,
Poll Are You Playing Helldivers 2?
Dive in
Helldivers 2 has arrived on PS5 (and PC!) with a bit of a bang. The co-op shooter appears to be quite popular already, rocketing up the Steam player charts and garnering a sizeable audience on streaming websites like Twitch. The question, then, is whether you're joining the Helldiver ranks and taking the fight to those big old bugs. We...
Interview Shift Up on PS5's Highly Promising Stellar Blade
Korean dev details console debut
PlayStation fans have been frustrated by Sony’s seeming overemphasis on live service game development behind-the-scenes, but that makes Stellar Blade a real breath of fresh air. A staunchly single player PS5 character action title, it marks Korean developer Shift Up’s first foray into the world of consoles –...
Poll How Do You Feel About All of the Xbox Multiplatform Rumours?
A PlayStation perspective
While we use the word 'rumours' in the headline of this article, the reality of the situation is that it really does look like Xbox is making significant changes to its business strategy. Speculation is absolutely rampant at the time of writing, with numerous reports all coming to the same conclusion: Microsoft wants to...
Hands On Honkai: Star Rail's Huge PS5 Update Brings Big BioShock Vibes
The city that always sleeps
The advantage of single player live service games like Honkai: Star Rail, for all the criticism they receive from enthusiasts, is that the action never ends. That makes updates like the enormous v2.0, which takes the Trailblazer to a new planet named Penacony, possible – and this is Chinese developer HoYoverse at its...
Preview Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Feels Like a Strong Step Forward from Remake
Kalming influence
"How did it feel being back up there? I don't know... nostalgic, I guess?" Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth summarised our feelings with one simple question. We love the original game but when Final Fantasy 7 Remake opened the door to some dramatic changes, nothing was guaranteed moving forward. Thankfully, Rebirth feels like a natural...
Live Watch Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's State of Play Livestream Right Here (6th February, 2024)
Cloud atlas
Looking to watch Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s State of Play livestream today? Last week we were treated to an excellent State of Play broadcast, showcasing the breadth of PS5's upcoming catalogue. But now it's time for another instalment, this time focusing specifically on Square Enix's remake sequel. We already know a demo will follow...
Interview How Castlevania, Studio Ghibli Inspired the Action Gardening of Ultros
And there's a double jump!
Not only is February a big month for the AAA titles of the world, but it's also lined up some fascinating indie games for PS5, PS4 owners to digest. Alongside Pacific Drive is Ultros, an incredibly colourful platformer promising just as much brutal action as there is calming gardening. It is out for Sony's two systems on...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth?
Infinite/10
It's been over a week since the release of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and it's safe to say that RGG Studio's latest RPG has been a hit. Its unique brand of madness (and massive marketing campaign) has allowed the game to reach people who wouldn't normally be interested in the series — and so we're very interested in hearing what...
Guide What Time Is the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth State of Play?
Dates, times, and what to expect
When is the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth State of Play? Sony has only just presented us with a bumper State of Play featuring various upcoming titles, but it closed the show with news that another edition would be coming very soon indeed. This latest State of Play will focus entirely on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Tekken 8?
Return of the king?
Tekken 8 has been out for about a week now on PS5, so you've had plenty of time to play though its insane story mode and get smashed to bits by shockingly powerful players online. And so we simply have to ask: how highly would you rate Bandai Namco's newest brawler? Without wanting to sway your opinion too much, we gave the game...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Essential Games for February 2024?
Plus or minus?
Yep, we're into the second month of 2024 already, and the beginning of a new month can only mean one thing in the PlayStation Nation: new PS Plus Essential games are incoming. So what's on February's menu? Well, at first glance, it's a rather solid trio of PS5 and PS4 titles. For starters, we've got the all-new Foamstars, which is...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 514
Who's killing the Justice League?
We're quite literally drowning in games. There are several huge releases available on PS5 now, with more to come throughout February. Here's everything keeping us busy this weekend. Aaron Bayne: After ringing out the campaign, I'm digging into some more endgame content in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League...
Poll Are You Playing Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League?
Justice for all
Well, it's here! After a couple of delays and a lot of heated discussions online, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has arrived on PS5. The co-op enabled action shooter has split opinion ever since its gameplay reveal, and confirmation of livr service elements only added fuel to the ongoing fire. The all-important question,...
Poll Are You Playing Persona 3 Reload?
Lock and Reload
Almost 18 whole years after the original Persona 3 released on PS2, a complete remake in the form of Persona 3 Reload is now available on PS5 and PS4. It feels like a proper Persona 3 revival has been in demand for generations, and now that it's actually here, we want to know if you're playing it. "A stunning remake of a classic...
Gallery Taipei's 12th Annual Anime Convention Has Its Heart Stolen by Persona 5: The Phantom X
A weeb's wonderland
Gaming and anime go hand-in-hand, and the impact of Persona 5 and Genshin Impact could not be ignored at Taipei’s 12th annual International Comics and Animation Festival today. Situated at the convention centre opposite the capital’s famous Taipei 101 building, fans rushed onto the show floor kitted out as all kinds of...
Preview Helldivers 2 Utterly Revels in Its Chaotic Bug Battles
Hands on with Sony's new shooter
The jury's still out on whether Sony's live-service push will prove fruitful or not, but Helldivers 2 at least gets it off on the front foot. The satisfying addictiveness of the Arrowhead Game Studios follow-up will see it fit perfectly in a rotation of other online and single player titles, circumventing the pull of...
Poll Are You Playing Granblue Fantasy: Relink?
Linked at last
No, you're not dreaming — Granblue Fantasy: Relink is actually here, released, and playable right now on PS5 and PS4. It's crazy to think that the action RPG was announced all the way back in 2016, before it was forced to endure a rocky development cycle and multiple delays. Thankfully, the general consensus seems to be that the...
Round Up What Was Announced During Sony's State of Play Livestream for January 2024?
All the PS5, PSVR2 reveals
After a few weeks of rumours and speculation, Sony returned to the gaming announcements scene with a new State of Play presentation promising over 15 PS5, PSVR2 games inside 45 minutes. The company delivered on its promise, but if you weren't able to catch the show live, you're probably looking for a round up of everything...
Poll How Would You Rate the Latest State of Play Showcase?
Did Sony get 2024 off to a good start?
Sony's first State of Play livestream of 2024 has been and gone, leaving us with a whole host of all-new PS5 and PSVR2 games to consider in the year ahead. Excitement for the show was quite a bit higher than would be typical of a State of Play due to the rumours and speculation spread in the days leading up to...
Live Watch Sony PlayStation's State of Play Livestream Right Here (31st January, 2024)
Stellar Blade! Rise of the Ronin! Death Stranding 2?
Looking to watch Sony PlayStation’s State of Play livestream today? Well, you've come to the right place! State of Plays can be mixed affairs, but Sony's latest presentation is looking like the real deal. With over 15 games promised, including first-party titles Rise of the Ronin and Stellar...
Guide Upcoming PS5 Games for February and March 2024
Final Fantasy VII! Dragon's Dogma! Suicide Squad!
We hope you're ready for another busy month or two on the PS5 front because there are plenty of exciting games headed our way over the next couple of months. As always, we've been busy putting together a list of some particularly noteworthy physical releases headed to PlayStation 5 over the next few...
Guide What Time Is PlayStation's State of Play?
When and where to watch State of Play
What time is Sony's State of Play livestream, and when and where can you watch it? State of Play is Sony's irregularly scheduled show for providing updates on the latest games coming to PS5, PS4, and PSVR2. Usually a little smaller in scale than a PlayStation Showcase, the State of Play will still be worth...
Hands On Suicide Squad Takes a Lot of Getting Used to, and It May Not Be Worth It
Our thoughts after three hours of play
If making you feel like a speedrunner was Rocksteady's intention as it put together the opening hours of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, then it at least nailed that aspect. Forcing one slapdash mission after another onto your HUD, the story introduction is told at such a breakneck pace that it can be...
Talking Point What Can We Expect in the Next State of Play Show?
Setting some PS5, PSVR2 expectations
Sony has confirmed it's starting 2024 with a bang, as a new State of Play show will see us into the start of February, just as many of the PS5 titles it's struck marketing deals with are set to release. The firm has confirmed over 15 PS5, PSVR2 games will appear within a 45-minute timespan, opening the floodgates...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered?
Can't be for nothing/10
We understand this is a bit of a weird poll since some of you will have already given the original The Last of Us: Part 2 a score, but we've got to be thorough with these things so that our Best PS5 Games lists are all correctly updated! The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is the same game, but it looks slightly better and comes...
Site News Where's Our Suicide Squad PS5 Review?
Ready and waiting
In just a handful of hours, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will release on PS5 via its Deluxe Edition. Marking the first moment it's available to the public, you'd rightly expect reviews from media outlets to have been published by now to help you decide whether it's worth picking up or not — including our own. However,...
Soapbox This Is Why Physical Games Are Still Important to Me
Material guy
I’ve got a confession to make: most of my PS5 and PS4 library is digital these days. I understand why the industry is increasingly transitioning away from physical media, and I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t address that right from the off. However, I still purchase plenty of cartridges and discs, and I believe boxed games still...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 513
Finite wealth
The floodgates have opened, and some of 2024's major games have begun spilling out. We imagine a lot of people will be taking on Tekken 8 or sunning themselves in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth's Honolulu. Whether you're jumping into a brand new release or delving deep into the backlog, there's no shortage of games. Here's what the...
Poll Are You Playing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth?
Scratching the Ichiban
Promising a potent mix of utter madness and intense drama, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is here, and its arrival likely signals the start of a memorable weekend for fans of the franchise. Indeed, the stakes are dangerously high for Ichiban and Kiryu in this climactic adventure across Honolulu, and as always, we want to know...
Poll Are You Playing Tekken 8?
A new battle begins
It's a huge day for Tekken fans, as the newest instalment in Bandai Namco's long-running series is finally here. Exclusive to current-gen platforms, Tekken 8 has long promised to be a banger — and the critic reviews certainly suggest that it is. But as always, we want to know if you're getting stuck into the latest release. In...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown?
Prince or pauper?
Now that it's been out on PS5 and PS4 for about a week, we want to know what you think of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. The side-scrolling adventure got some really high review scores from critics, despite its obvious deviation from the more well-known Prince of Persia formula (but then it's been ages since the series' previous...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 512
The onslaught begins next week
This is the last weekend before the 2024 release schedule really kicks into gear, so we hope you've cleared your gaming backlog in preparation. Tekken 8 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth await next week, so these are all the games we are playing to pass the time until they release. Aaron Bayne: The new season of...
Poll Are You Playing The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered?
No returns
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is out now on PS5, bringing the brutal PS4 adventure to Sony's current-gen console. The remaster features some (fairly minor, in the grand scheme of things) graphical upgrades, alongside a slew of extras, like an action-packed roguelike mode and behind-the-scenes content. Of course, the original game isn't...
Video The Last Of Us 2 PS5 vs PS4 Graphics Comparison
Getting up close and personal with the post-apocalypse
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is set to launch on PS5, bringing with it a host of technical enhancements. The PS4 original was arguably the best looking game of the previous generation, but now thanks to the remaster will have a full native PS5 version with native 4K options. But how much...
Poll Are You Playing Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown?
Lost and found
It may not be the Prince of Persia revival that some fans wanted, but Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown seems to be kicking 2024's release schedule off with a bit of a bang. The action-platformer's been given high review scores across the board, and we want to know if you're sold on this new-look adventure. "Prince of Persia: The Lost...
Poll Are You Happy with Your PS Plus Extra, Premium Games for January 2024?
Plus or minus?
Between the two tiers, PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium are getting 14 additional games this month. It's another sizable update for the service, but as always, we want to know what you think of the selection. At least from our perspective, Extra continues to bring a lot of variety to the PS Plus table. While not all of January's...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 511
Type 4
While 2024 has only just got started, we’re very much in the calm before the storm right now. There’s an avalanche of PS5 and PS4 software on the way, starting with Prince of Persia: Lost Crown next week, and followed by heavy hitters Tekken 8 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. This is your last chance to clear your backlog, then. Aaron...
Feature 18 PS5 Predictions for 2024
What's on the Horizon?
The year of our lord (Jim Ryan) 2023 is over. Forget it. It's in the past, and it's time to move on. We must look to the future, at all the wild and wonderful gaming to come in 2024. It's impossible to know exactly what this new year will bring, but we're going to give it a darn good try anyway, because it's tradition, and...
Guide Upcoming PS5 Games for January and February 2024
The Last of Us! Final Fantasy! Tekken!
The start of the year is usually a pretty quiet time for new game releases, but 2024's already proving to be a winner with a surprisingly strong start. As always, we've been busy putting together a list of some particularly noteworthy physical releases headed to PlayStation 5 over the next few weeks, as well...
Talking Point What Do You Want from Sony and PlayStation in 2024?
A pivotal year for PS5
2024 could and probably should be a big year for Sony and PlayStation. This is the PS5's fourth year on the market, and although it's widely accepted that the current console generation was forced into a slow start by the pandemic, this sort of midpoint is typically where Sony's systems begin to flourish. So, with all of this...
Feature Inside Red Candle, Taiwan's Iconic Trailblazing Indie Developer
On exploring its culture and reinventing itself
Red Candle’s atmospheric side-scrolling horror Detention has been adapted into a full-length novel, a blockbuster live action movie, and a high-profile Netflix television series in the near-seven or so years since it debuted – but you wouldn’t know it upon entering the Taiwanese developer’s...
Live Watch Sony's CES 2024 Press Conference Right Here
Electronics avenue
Looking to watch Sony’s CES 2024 press conference? Then you’ve come to the right place. Look, we’ll be upfront with you right out of the gate: this is the Consumer Electronics Show, so don’t expect a particularly heavy emphasis on PlayStation at all. We should get a glimpse into the manufacturer’s overarching strategy,...
Poll Which Persona Game Has the Best Opening?
Now it's personal
Atlus revealed the opening for Persona 3 Reload earlier this week, and it's so good that it got us wondering: which Persona game has the best title sequence? In case you don't know, each game in the series typically introduces itself with an animated opening, featuring a unique song and some gorgeous artwork. There's no doubt...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 510
Dry January
It's the bleak first week of a New Year. We suppose there's renewed optimism with it being 2024, but the weather sucks and the frivolity of Christmas is in the rear-view mirror. At least there's video games, eh? Here's what we're playing. Aaron Bayne: After wrapping up God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla during the week, I'm moving on to...
