Category: PlayStation

New PlayStation Store Releases: Shovel Knight!

Picture

Finally making its way to Sony platforms this week is none other than the retro indie darling, Shovel Knight (as a sexy Cross Buy 3-Way, no less)! Also releasing this week, Assassin's Creed (goes to) China, and LA Cops (you can find our review of that one here). Head past the break to dig up the complete list of new releases.
PlayStation 4

[Image: Yacht Club Games]

Microsoft Aims for Sony’s Sore Spot With E3 Focus on First Party

Picture

With Uncharted being pushed to 2016 and the Xbox One lock on Tomb Raider, Microsoft is further exploiting a perceived weakness in its arch rival by focusing on first party exclusives at this year's E3. The head of Microsoft's Xbox Division, Phil Spencer, is saying "this may be the best year for first-party content on Microsoft consoles than ever before."
At least one exclusive new first party IP will be unveiled at this year's E3 in addition to other franchises that will see new entries unique to the Xbox One's library. Perhaps we'll see more of Crackdown, a title which was previously used to demonstrate the potential of leveraging Microsoft's cloud computing. What would you like to see?
Source: Neowin

Which Unique Console Feature Surprised You?

Picture

The PlayStation 4 has a feature I find hard to go without on other consoles. I'm not talking about the controller speaker, although it is cool when someone calls you on your cell in GTA V and the audio gets patched through there. It's a little gimmicky and although available to developers on the Wii for that entire generation, was still rarely well used.

I'm talking about the standard headphone/mic jack on the PlayStation 4 controller. I find myself wishing it was there when I play other consoles.

Picture

I'm not made of money, I can't afford to buy a fancy wireless headset that works on one or two consoles that I own. I can barely afford to buy a new pair of earbuds when mine break every year, no matter how careful I am with them. Besides, I'd much rather spend the price of a wireless headset on a new game.

I live in a house with other people and don't want to bother them. Sometimes my son is asleep, I've got neighbors that don't want too much noise, and sometimes I just don't want to hear anything else. My earbuds are noise canceling, they're always handy for my portable music player, tablet, or laptop, and they sound good enough. Sometimes "good enough" is all you need.

The headphone jack on the PS4 controller is right there, I can just plug them in and be immersed in the game's soundtrack without bothering anyone else. I've played games all my life through the TV speakers and it was fine, I enjoyed myself a lot, but I've noticed a lot of advantages to using my plain old $10 earbuds.

Picture

There's a magic that comes through when you don't hear anything else, naught but the game's soundtrack. The quiet moments sound appropriately quiet, you can make out the subtleties such as the rain hitting the pavement, as well as the footsteps of people walking by while they carry on in conversations. You can even make out what they're saying instead of having it drowned out by the air conditioner in your room.

The loud crescendos have much more impact when they overcome these quiet moments, like when you enter a boss's lair in Bloodborne and the orchestra swells as the fierce beast makes its appearance. Positional audio comes through brilliantly even through your average headset, allowing you to track enemies around you or find a secret beacon which transmits intermittent audio blips.

Picture

Are there any console or even handheld features that have made a notable impact on your gaming experience? Is there something that changed things enough that you have a hard time living without it? Voice commands? Chatpad? 3D effect? Portable LCD screen? What's your number one surprise feature?

Ultra Street Fighter IV Battles its way onto PlayStation 4 Next Month

Picture

The digital release of Ultra Street Fighter IV for PlayStation 4 will release on May 26th on the PlayStation online store, simultaneously in the Americas and Europe. So far, no physical edition is planned, so right now your only option is a download. The PlayStation blog confirms that all current DLC will be bundled and that any input lag that was perceived by PlayStation 3 gamers has been completely eliminated for this release.
Priced at $24.99, it's a very attractive offer to PlayStation 4 owners who can't wait until next year for the release of Street Fighter V.

LA Cops patrolling it’s way onto PS4

Top down twin stick tactical shooter LA Cops is indeed coming to the PS4 and we've got the low down after the jump.
If you've watched or read our review of LA Cops you know that it wasn't my favorite game. While there were some issues that kept it from really blowing me away it is still a fun experience. Well, on the 22nd of April you'll be able to have that experience on PS4 as well. Personally I hope the game does well, as I'd love to see a more polished, vision coherent sequel.

Have you played LA Cops? Let us know what you though about the game in the comment below.

Author: Billy C
Game: LA Cops
Website: http://www.la-cops.com/
Our Review: LA Cops

Thatgamecompany’s Journey Coming to PS4

Picture

The PlayStation 4 will see Journey in a Thatgamecompany triple-pack physical release along with Flower and flOw. A digital release of Journey will also be available. Tricky Pixels is doing the port work this time, working closely with Sony Santa Monica. 1080p and 60 frames per second is the target for this HD remaster.
Update: Sony Santa Monica confirms in a blog comment that Journey will be cross-buy compatible, if you've already purchased it for PS3, you will be able to download the PS4 version for free!
Source: GameSpot

Star Ocean 5 announced as PS4, PS3 exclusive

Picture

This week’s issue of Famitsu magazine revealed Square Enix and tri-Ace are working together again on the latest installment of the Star Ocean series. In addition to details on the main characters and battle system, Famitsu also obtained some info from the game’s developers.

“With the thought of putting my life into Star Ocean, I decided to change my position to producer (having previously been in charge of advertisement until now),” said producer Suichi Kobayashi. “I want to color Star Ocean 5 with the essence of Star Ocean 3.”

Check out the trailer after the break.
Lead programmer Yoshiharu Gotonda said that the subtitle of “Integrity and Faithlessness” has multiple meanings, and you’ll get a better understanding of it by playing it until the very end.

Kobayashi added, “This time around, we wanted to give the longtime fans of the series a sense of reassurance, so we had the title logo designed similarly to that of Star Ocean 3.”

“The basics of the battles will be similar to those of past titles, where you’ll control a character and aim for a target for a one-on-one battle,” said director Hiroshi Ogawa. “On the other hand, boss fights will be a little different from the regular battles, where all the party members will fight the boss in a different way.”

When asked about the future of the series, Kobayashi stated that he’d like to see the series keep going. In addition to making more for the fans of the series, he’s aiming to make a complete title that newer fans can enjoy, too.

During the interview, it was revealed that Star Ocean 5 is in development using the PlayStation 3 version as a base, while development on the PlayStation 4 version progresses alongside. The team is considering  using the PS4′s Share function in some capacity.

“We’re not thinking about DLC that concerns the game’s story, or anything along the lines of having a ‘complete version’,” said Kobayashi. “Our true intention is the least amount possible, when it comes to things that might upset fans.”

Star Ocean 5 is in development for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Its progress is currently at about 30%. It currently does not have a scheduled release date.

Picture

-William Sierra
[Source: Famitsu]

New PlayStation Store Releases: Test Your Might

Picture

"Get over here!" Mortal Kombat X has arrived! It's hard to believe that this is already the 10th iteration. I still remember playing parts one and two in the arcade, way back in '93 or '94. Now I feel old. We've already posted what everybody else is saying about the game. Keep checking back here and we may just have a review of our own up at some point. No promises though.

Also new this week, Teslagrad (in the US anyways), Titan Souls, a twinstiq, I mean twin-stick shooter, and a PS2 Classic for good measure. Now, "Finish Him!" ...and then head past the break to see the full list of new releases.

PlayStation 4

PlayStation 3

  • Gradius V (PS2 Classic) (Sony Computer Entertainment America, 466 MB, $9.99)
[Image: Warner Bros]