Feb 18 - Feb 22

Section: 

This week should be a busy one for gaming, though more for the anticipated mid-week announcements than the big couple of games for the week. It was May of 2005, nearly eight years ago, that the PlayStation 3 was first announced to the public, which means at this point the PS3 is on track for a longer shelf-life than its venerable brother the PlayStation 2.

I want to believe that Sony is in a position to both learn from and act on the things it could have learned from this generation where it, to me at least, always felt like second best. But Sony has never really struck me as a company quick to learn and adapt, so I approach whatever Wednesday's announcement will be with anticipation and trepidation. I want to walk away unable to contain my anticipation at the opportunity to drop some Benjamins down on next-gen, but I fear that I will instead feel frustrated at measures designed to improve DRM, reduce used sales and force gamers into restrictive environments.

As far as games go this week, however, my pick of the litter is Crysis 3. I find myself in the mood for a science-fictiony action game, and though rarely deep, Crysis does always seem to deliver a visual spectacle that is fun to play. The other option for the week is Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance which is a name that just starts off on two wrong feet with me.

PC
- Crysis 3
- March of the Eagles (download - $20)
- Richard & Alice (download)
- The Bridge (download - $15)

Xbox 360
- Capcom Arcade Cabinet (XBLA)
- Crysis 3
- Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
- Serious Sam Double D XXL (XBLA - $10)

PS3
- Capcom Arcade Cabinet (PSN)
- Crysis 3
- Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
- Urban Trial Freestyle (PSN)

Vita
- Urban Trial Freestyle (PSN)

PSP
- Generation of Chaos: Pandora's Reflection
- Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi

Comments

Sony did a lot to improve the PS3 this generation. I personally went from having no interest to it being my favorite console. So Sony has shown the ability to adapt, but it can be rather slow about it. This time, I hope for good first impression.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a lame name, but I'm curious for one, and only one reason: "Developed by Platinum Games".

I want to believe that Sony is in a position to both learn from and act on the things it could have learned from this generation where it, to me at least, always felt like second best.

*snicker*

I'm awaiting the PS4 announcement on tenterhooks. If it's going to be BC with PS3 (and, hopefully PS2) games, I'm stuck waiting for it to launch. If not, I'm buying a new PS3 to replace my dead one, and probably waiting a year or two into the PS4's life to make a purchasing decision.

Revengeance is a dish best served re-heated.

Gravey wrote:

Revengeance is a dish best served re-heated.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/dhpgFIN.png)

If I were to nab something this week it would be Metal Gear Rising, but my tax return went to the new apartment. So nothing for me for a while.

As far as games go this week, however, my pick of the litter is Crysis 3.

That sure is an odd cover image. It doesn't make me think 'Crysis' at all.

Spoiler:

snark!

I think it's fair to say Sony learned something from the PS3. Multi-billion dollar baths tend to do that.

What did they learn? For one, the specs for the PS4 look remarkably like the specs for Durango, only with faster graphics RAM and less system RAM (sigh). Nothing too cutting edge or expensive to produce. I also wonder if they're making a conscious effort to be first out of the gate unlike last time around.

Speaking of PS3, and RAM - anyone else picking up the Skyrim DLC since it's finally rolling out?

I'm not going to hold my breath for a new Sony console, but it would be nice if they announced some sweet Vita games. I have really gone back to my PC gaming roots this console cycle. I've spent a fair amount of time with the 360, both of them, but my time with the Wii was short lived, and I never did buy a PS3.

Crysis 3 looks good, as they always do, but I have yet to play past the "meet the aliens" levels in either Crysis 1 or 2.

I think I'm going to stick to the backlog.

I just played the demo for Metal Gear Rising: The Revengenating, and it really does feel like a Platinum Games games. Insane setpieces and hyper-kinetic combat that's brutally punishing if your skills aren't up to snuff.

This last decade of gaming has been one where my tastes have changed and developed. And the PS3 was at the forefront of that. I was an excited and casual fan of gaming coming out of highschool and couldn't afford ANY "Next Gen" console back when the 360 launched and then the PS3 coming out at $600 wasn't helping matters. After a price drop the next year and getting some extra funds, I finally dropped $400 on the PS3 and was so proud of being able to buy my own gaming console. Over the next 5 or 6 years I have dug deep into gaming and my tastes have evolved and changed. Now I have been doing most of my gaming on an Alienware X51 (cuz I was too much of a sissy to build my own rig) and am now in the position of where I'm not sure if I will be getting a PS4 or the next Xbox.

This long winded story ends with me wondering if there will be a lot more people turning to PC's or just upgrading what PC's they have and skipping the shiny new hardware. I guess time will tell...

Jonman wrote:

I just played the demo for Metal Gear Rising: The Revengenating, and it really does feel like a Platinum Games games. Insane setpieces and hyper-kinetic combat that's brutally punishing if your skills aren't up to snuff.

For me, that's just what the doctor ordered.

PS3: aside from making a few hundred dollars on launch day thanks to eBay, I've not taken the plunge. And as much as I long to play Tokyo Jungle, Journey, and a handful of other exclusive titles, that doesn't seem like a good cost-to-software ratio. I barely get enough playing time with my Xbox, PC, or iOS devices, so I can't justify another console. As someone who has swapped console developers the last few generations--GameCube, PS2, X360--it's entirely up to Sony whether they want to lure me back with a stable and useful online system or whether I remain an XBLG user because it gets the job done more adequately.

I don't think I am going to buy into the PS4. Since I have found a love for PC gaming, my PS3 has been collecting dust. The same goes for the next gen xbox, I think I am done with consoles.

I'm curious to see what's announced on Wednesday (c'mon Home 2!), but I think I'm taking a wait n' see approach to the system unless there's something mind-blowing announced. PSP and PS3 both took a long time to get enough of a library that caught my attention, and I know from the 3DS and Wii U it's tough to be an early adopter for the first 18 months.

Other than that, nothing grabs my interest this week so back to the pile.

Curious about PS4, but really can't be bothered to even consider the idea of buying one some time in the next 2-4 years. In fact, I've only just gotten my own PS3 (which should arrive in a couple of weeks or so; had been using my brother-in-law's up until recently) and am looking forward to catch up with the exclusives I've missed.

Played the Revengeance demo and found it fun. Very much Metal Gear in general ambience, but Platinum's stamp is right there to kick the action up a few notches. Could be a purchase in the not-so-distant future.

Unless they announce a Warhawk/Twisted Metal/Wipeout crossover, I'll be waiting a while. I've only had my PS3 for a couple of years.
Actually, if they just made it open, I'd strongly consider making it my next PC.

inthebird wrote:

I don't think I am going to buy into the PS4. Since I have found a love for PC gaming, my PS3 has been collecting dust. The same goes for the next gen xbox, I think I am done with consoles.

You know what? I think I'm the same. I love my PC more than ever. If the Vita comes down in price in the UK I might pick one up, but in terms of "proper" consoles I'm just not feeling it any more. Seeing that supposed-Dualshock 4 controller made my heart sink rather than soar, and I can't see Microsoft or Sony trying to make the simple act of playing a game any easier for people!

Another slow week for games--my wallet thanks you. Back to clearing the pile.

RolandofGilead wrote:

Unless they announce a Warhawk/Twisted Metal/Wipeout crossover, I'll be waiting a while. I've only had my PS3 for a couple of years.
Actually, if they just made it open, I'd strongly consider making it my next PC.

I'd settle for Tony Hawk's Crazy Twisted Metal Taxi.

Crysis 3 is reported to only have a 6 hour campaign at $60 bucks I hardly see that as worth it