Gaming Haptic Feedback in Black (and a Trenchcoat): The PlayStation 5 Discussion Thread

Oh, you can't even lower the difficulty? Bugger that for a laugh.

 

Just watched Yong's take, has some points in common with SkillUp.

 

So Returnal is out tomorrow, I've now watched three excellent reviews - SkillUp, Yong, ACG and overall? It's not for me nor will it ever be. The tragedy here is that it could have been if not for some very deliberate design choices.

A while back I nabbed Housemarque's PS4 games. Started with Resogun. This is a staggeringly accessible,. amazing looking shooter even over a decade later! You can do a couple of levels, exit, games saves, you then come back to it in a bit and do some more. I haven't done the final level, even on Easy, but have them all open, which is what I wanted. Alienation? An OK twin stick shooter but didn't feel the hook to continue. Matterfall? A very complicated control scheme that I lack the dexterity for. Those that can crack it? Probably have a good time. And then there is Nex Machina, a game where, in order to unlock levels, in total contrast to Resogun, you have to play the entire game in one sitting! You can't do World 1, then World 2, save and come back to try World 3. You have to get to Worlds 4 and then 5 as one playthrough. I have World 4 access, I do not have, nor will I get, World 5. This single design decision destroyed Nex Machina, for me, as a game.

And Housemarque have made the same decision for Returnal, with the same effect for me. Even if, like with their earlier games, I got it with 80% off, that lack of save still hurts it severely, as the runs for Returnal can be 30-45 minutes at a time!

Sure, you can say to do all of Nex Machina is probably 50mins to an hour, but what of the nature of that timespan? Of the intensity of it and the focus needed? For all that I love the future racer RedOut, I can only play it 15-20mins at a time because my eyes and head will not take any more. The graphics, the speed, the focus - it's a short hit game. Similarly a FPS like Doom 2016 or the new Wolfenstein games or Titanfall 2, their official campaign play time may be short, but it'll feel far longer. Titanfall 2 is in the range of 5-6 hours but feels far more. Whereas turn-based JRPGs like Trails of Cold Steel or Yakuza 7: Like A Dragon, I can play for far longer far more easily.

It's worth noting that just about all of Housemarque's PS4 games are frequently on sale. I got the quartet for probably £16-18 total. For trying their stuff out, as a set of gambles, that's OK. A PS5 game that has £70 price tag? Looks rather different, even if it falls to £10-15.

If I look at other rougelike games like Everspace or Dead Cells, those do have mid-run save ability. Everspace saves when you start a new level, but its levels are small too. Dead Cells? Haven't yet tried it. What both of these do is show that Returnal could have a save mid-run system without it hurting the game at all. If anything, it would boost it. I know for myself that ability to save mid-run made Everspace so much better for me, so much more accessible and playable.

Being charitable? While being far more ambitious in aiming for AAA gaming - in graphics and audio and everything else, Housemarque have shown they haven't gotten out of the mindset of making niche, specialist audience games. That's why Returnal is the way it is, but that only goes so far, as they have made more open, more accessible games, with Resogun as the proof.

I look at Returnal and part of me says I'd enjoy it, that I'd love its aesthetics and its design, but I also know I'd likely be looking to play it in 15-20 minute bursts and that is apparently not possible. That's a tragedy.

 

Man I hope Amazon releases their stock soon. It’s gonna be the best chance for most folk to get it.

 

I got it!

I GOT IT!

Thanks SJ!

 

And now you get to play Astro's Playroom....

 

Astro's is a far better game than I initially gave it credit for.

Groovy music, fun and cutesy levels with a reasonable bit of challenge and an encouragement to explore.

It was played, then removed then reinstalled.

 

Does this thing not come with a screw for the base or am I just missing it?

cause I sure don’t have a tiny screw laying around the house at present.

 

Yaaaay so glad it got there safely.

The screw for the base is in a little slot on the bottom iirc.

 

I found it. Can’t get it out though. Don’t want to break it trying as it feels pretty flimsy.

 

Hmm maybe get something magnetic to get it out?

 

I got it. I was just babying it to much.

System update now.

 

I guess it’s cute but I don’t think I ll ever dig into it further. I couldn’t figure out how to invert control so I was not very good. I actually jumped a few times literally...those vibrations are really something. I ll let my son play it.

I now need to figure out how to get RDR2 on the PS4 itself so I can take my storage device into my room. He is in the RV with the 4.

Ed: is there some block where you can’t operate both consoles at the same time? I had to change the password to set up PS5 and now the PS4 has him shut out where I can’t log back on.

 

That's weird, I regularly use both my PS4 and PS5.

 

I finally figured it out. I really hate being so tech unsavvy. Had to restart it and get a 2nd txt code on phone. Working now.

Im waiting for my son to go back to his moms house this weekend before I mess with external so he can keep playing RD2 uninterrupted. Sooo I might actually do that Astro thing after I take my ambien. Ha

 

That was me with the screw - being very, very careful with it. Later I went with horizontal instead.

 

lol I know right.

So I’m sitting here looking at this ugly beast and I had thought about just how much a hassle it will be if we have to dodge any hurricanes.. I could pack my PS4 or Xbone up no problem in suit case. I won’t be able to do that so easily with this guy.

Also this cord that comes in box must not be an actual 4K cord. My Xbone has the sharper picture(bought 4K cord way back) and it is very clear when I switch back and forth in the middle of watching Trek original series on Netflix. Today I will swap cords to see.

 

It might not be the cord - Have you flicked your TV's HDMI port to 'enhanced'?

 

Nope.

I switched the cord and boom same quality as Xbone. That is a reg HDMI cable. Shame.

 

Weird, I've the cable it came with and it works fine.

 

That's weird, it comes with an HDMI 2.1 cable..maybe it doesn't work on TVs with older protocols? Definitely get a cord that allows for 4k!

 

I think not a lot of TVs are up to the level of HDMI 2.1 but that doesn't block 4k HDR.

 

No.... Can I ask what TV model you have?

 

Older Sony Bravia that is a couple of years old now, probably a 2017 / 18 model but bought later on sale. It does 4k HDR with no problem.

Of course, I've only tapped that ability sibce getting a PS5. The future possibility was one reason for getting it when our old TV died.