Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 17-18)

Playing Banisher's: Ghost of Eden. Can't stress enough how much I'm liking this game.

Either Halo BTB refresh (which I’m truly awful at) or some couch coop games with my wife. We’ve been playing Vampire Survivors but I’d like to play something else.

I just got a new phone and Backbone controller so I could play GP on the go (plus my previous phone was 6 years old and really struggling to keep up). Tested it over my wi-fi and was seriously impressed. Still deciding what to dive into, but I know when Diablo IV comes to GP, I'll be spending some time on that if it works well.

Forza Motorsport/Horizon 4, Price of Persia the Lost Crown. Persona 3 Reload.

Still rockin' Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth!

Maybe a bit of FH5 or Avatar later today.

Wow we sold three series x already this morning.
Maybe the news this week, maybe that Sony not releasing a big AAA until April 2025, maybe the small price drop to £409.99.
Either way good for series x in the UK.

Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth and Banishers Ghosts of New Eden both awesome

On PS5 I'll be jumping back in to Helldivers 2 and maybe go back to Alan Wake 2. On Xbox I've just finished RE3 remake first RE game I've ever completed because I'm usually a coward with horror games.

Toy Soldiers HD, Forza Horizon 4 and a bit of Flight Sim - all on Series X.

Tried to start Helldivers 2 last night but kept getting met with a “servers full” error. Nothing like shelling out 40 for a game and not being able to play.

I’ll probably play some Trials of Osiris and keep trying to get Helldivers to let me in.

I'm still chipping away at Gotham Knights. Up to Level 19 with Red Hood now. I'm liking it a bit more than I did when I started playing.

Not a fantastic game by any means, but it's decent. My mind is starting to think about what I'll play next though.

Happy gaming everyone 👍👍

Dead island 2 on free play days.

@fabisputza007 Thanks for the recommendation of Banishers Ghosts of Eden and will wishlist it. Im going to continue my adventure in AC Valhalla for the weekend. Happy gaming everyone

I'll be alternating between like a dragon and helldivers 2, such great games.

I’ll be playing the original Tomb Raider. Loved it back in the day and having a blast at the moment revisiting the game. I’ll move on to the second when I beat the first.

Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth and it's dizzying amount of things to do, from full on Animal Crossing to Pokemon, arcade games and much more. The core gameplay brings classic JRPG mechanics into the modern age all with a great story.

Oh amd some classic Tomb Raider Remastered, which feels amazing to play an adventure game without constant chatter from either the main character or their sidekick. You're just free to explore in peace

Finally playing Infinite Wealth after finishing Gaiden. At last I'm at the end of my Yakuza journey.
Also been trying Pathfinder Kingmaker which surprised me in a good way.

Helldivers 2, it's got to be the best co op shooter of the last ten years if not longer. Playing on PC with a Series X controller - I sincerely hope it comes to Xbox as no one should miss out on this much fun. Time will tell if they can keep it fresh but at the moment the Starship Troopers and Terminator influences only heighten it's appeal for me. Then to calm down, maybe a bit of Flight Simulator on Series X where it's better optimized than I'm able to do with a 3070 GPU somehow.

Death Stranding Directors Cut. Made it to edge knot city and just defeated the big BT. Think its act 10 or possibly 9? The story is very interesting and I have even found the gameplay fun. It may be a walking sim kind of, but I have enjoyed it none the less. Especially the firing range its been fun getting the S rank on them all.

Think my next game will either the MGS collection or the tomb raider collection. Which one would people recommend playing first as I like both of the series

This weekend I’m playing Final Fantasy 7 Remake. The PS1 title is a seminal experience that I felt was fine the way it is. Somehow, the remake managed to subvert my expectations and really expand on what made the original so whimsical.

First and foremost, Cloud Strife really is a great character. I love his stoic personality. His past is ominous and you can tell he has been through a lot that has affected him because when it comes down to business at hand he is steadfast and ready to go. He is quipped with one-liners that shows how hardened he is as an Ex-SOLDIER, but the supporting characters around him essentially force him to soften his shell, albeit unwillingly at times.

As for other characters, they all have unique personalities with interpersonal stories that have you invested immediately through story missions that focus on them personally. And you can feel their motivations and comradery—they feel like a real team. One thing that stands out are the unique personality traits of the female protagonists.

Jessie, for example, is energetic and bubbly. She seemingly won’t take no for an answer, and is an act first, think later type of woman. And she’s good at using her appealing magnetism to benefit her necessities. Tifa is an optimist but also grounded. She battles between what’s right and wrong, but remains diligent in her decisions. She has a sense of maturity that the other characters don’t. And then there is Aerith, whom has this nonchalant attitude, with humorous jokes and an irresistible disposition and innocence that makes you want to protect her, even though she can clearly handle herself.

The story is fantastic, too. It balances telling two stories at once. The remake takes place in a small section of the original - Midgar - and it tells the story of how a ragtag crew of eco-terrorists are trying to stop a mega-corporation from draining the world of its essence in order to to use its energy source as a form of profit. That’s the basis of the game, and yet the remake manages to tell this portion of the story in a full blown game that feels complete even though this section is a minor fraction of the main game.

My only quibble is the combat. The action is fun, snappy and responsive, but I have a difficult time managing several party members, their health, abilities, and positioning. It seems to me the combat is unbalanced because the game essentially forces you to be on the offensive in order to use your ATB — this also includes abilities, magic, and items such a health potions, phoenix downs, etc.; so it’s easy to get overwhelmed with a ton of enemies while trying to manage defense simultaneously.

Thankfully, this remake is sublime. It stays true to its roots and keeps the spirit of the original FF7 in tact, but includes smart, yet subtle changes that only enhance the modern experience. I didn’t appreciate the remake as much when I first played it back in 2020, but now I see the game through a much different lens. I could say a lot more because I’ve only scratched the surface, and the character limit won’t allow me to say much more. I’ll end my diatribe with this: FF7R is a prodigious game, and is a must if you’re a fan of the franchise. Bring on Rebirth.

Im playing 'one piece: odyssey' and whilst theirs little challenge, Im enjoying it.

Whatever your playing, have fun!

It snowed in my neck of the woods last night so this weekend I am going to try this outside thing I keep hearing so much about. It is supposed to be very immersive.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss (Vita) - I strongly disliked that canoe segment...

Jet Car Stunts (Windows Phone) - I just started after finishing Daxter.

Lode Runner Classic (Windows Phone) - Still continuing my playthrough of this.

Banishers Ghosts Of New Eden.
I'm solving the haunted cases and I love how fleshed out the NPC stories are. Best pre-order ever!

dead island 2. its now my fav zombie game ever. they even made a tiny joke about resident evil puzzles.

dead island 2, guts done right.

I'm playing Max Payne 2. Still looks great!

Business as usual for me, still not done with Trails of Cold Steel III but I'm hoping I can beat it by the end of next week so I can finally play something else for once.

I had to drop Spiritfarer. I usually finish games I start, but the overlong dialogue, tedious chores, linear islands and general lack of gameplay made it hard to have any fun. The animation is nice though.

Compulsively need to finish all trophies in Arkham City and get my $2.50 worth.

On Switch, Arkham Asylum and on xbox Gears of War 2.

Still loving Brotato and somehow made it once to level 20. When the trophy pinged only 33% have done it so far… so others are struggling as well. Also playing a little to the left for the cozy relaxing moments between Brotato sessions… have a great weekend!

Like a few others, I’m playing Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, and am really enjoying the first few hours; will probably also play a hit more of The Man Who Erased His Name - I do quite like these Yakuza/Like a Dragon games.

We got hit with an unexpected amount of snow and below freezing temperatures, both of which are anticipated to have moved from the area come Monday, so I'll be spending this weekend warmly indoors on my XBox Series X walking my way through EDENGATE: The Edge of Life, and, time permitting, checking out A Little to the Left on Game Pass. Plenty of sweets and Yorkshire Tea will be on hand as well.

Should finish up dying light 2 on xbox today and hoping like crazy that i am finally able to push through forspoken on ps5 (it been miserable so far and clogging up my ps5 backlog for months now).

Still banging away at Baldurs Gate 3 and started Persona 3 Reloaded

Skull and Bones is a big pass for me. We wanted an assassins creed iv style pirate game, and they gave us a sea of thieves clone. No thanks. Enough with the live service junk.

Finishing up baldurs gate, which I’ve been playing since release! Then time for persona 3R. Still waiting for them to announce when Octopath traveler 2 is coming out.

@esotericdaniel same!! Maybe many of us are in that boat. I’m at the end of act 3 now.

@Lup are you playing pathfinder on console? How are the game pad controls?

Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, Apollo Justice Ace Attorney Trilogy, and Tomb Raider Remaster Trilogy.

@Kraven the combat in ff7 remake ruined it for me

Why don’t they put their free play days games on the Home Screen or something? I never know about any of them until it’s about over.

@jesse_dylan

I feel like it's a little complicated but I have to make clear that I'm a certified noob in the genre.
I tried Pillars of Eternity too and I feel like this one is better adapted to console. I'm playing with turn-based mode though. It's on sale that's why I grabbed in case you're interested.

@Lup I’m just finishing up baldurs gate 3 and felt that did a really good job with the controller implementation on Xbox!

@Dusk_Actual my buddy and I had the same issue, it took a good half an hour to get in. My friend said if you have a friend already on it usually lets you in if they invite you.

I’m doing my part to spread democracy! The only good bug is a dead bug … oh wait that’s a different IP.

@Odium it’s ridiculous. I’m happy for the devs but this is bs

I know it's all about Helldivers, right now, but I'm personally completely hooked to Suicide Squad. It simply is the most fun I had in gaming since a very long time.

Sure, as DC fan, I cannot be totally objective, but the gameplay is so good, the game so beautifull and these incredible actors so devoted to their roles that I'm just always thinking about it.

Hooked !

I just finished the entirety of Asaasin's Creed: Valhalla after 290 hours. Now I'm playing Horizon: Zero Dawn on PC and Immortals of Aveum on Series X. Check out my YouTube channel, I livestream daily and past livestreams are saved. www.youtube.com/zydio1103

@Bobobiwan So, it's actually a good game? I wonder why everyone is saying it's horrible. I'm so confused nowadays if a game is good or bad based on people's opinions. They are so all over the place.

Xbox Series X - Tomb Raider remasters, PoP The Lost Crown, Suicide Squad

PS5 - Helldivers II

Switch - Mario vs Donkey Kong remake

Mostly just playing Quake 4. Just over half-way through it now. I played a bit more of Crysis Remastered (did y'all know that if you have GP for PC or GP Ultimate, you also have an EA Play account, and you can play that for "free" even though it isn't on GP?) and decided to give up on it. I also played a bit more of Death Stranding Director's Cut and gave up on that as well.

@Dusk_Actual it’s amazing how overrun their servers are. I get that this game took off far more than they expected but you’d think they’d have upgraded the servers right away after it did.

50% bonus on XP and Requisites certainly isn’t helping either. But with all of that said, once you get in it’s a blast. It only took me a couple of minutes getting on tonight at least.

I’m about to finish Arkham City. Still a brilliant game.
I’m also midway through Condemned: Criminal Origins (holds up really well) and playing career mode in Forza 8 (best racer I’ve played and the graphics blow GT7 out of the water). Tried P3 Reload but I don’t like it. I don’t like the updated soundtrack and voiceovers. Also prefer the art style of the PS2 original. Guess I’ll just replay FES at some point.

@ZYDIO I honestly don't understand what's happening with this game, right now. I can only think it's all about the "live-service" thing, which disappointed fans of the franchise the second it was announced.

And I can understand that. Truly, I can. It's all on Warner : live-service, 20 bucks skins (20 !!!), etc.

But the truth is that Rocksteady actually delivered a hell of a game. I play it only solo, with IA as partners (and you can switch between the squads anytime) and this game just amaze me.

It's a real cinematic experience, with great, great (really great !) cut scenes, a truly very good - and surprising - DC story, and some amazing performances from the actors (especially Tara Strong, excellent as always in the role of Harley Quinn, and Daniel Lapaine, who delivers an extraordinary version of Captain Boomerang - and let's not forget it is the last work of the great late Kevin Conroy as Batman). I'm rooting with these characters, eager to see what's coming next for them, and from time to time, laughing my a** out loud to some really good jokes I did not see coming.

This game even made me want to buy (and I did) some DC animes I did not own, at the time, in bluray - like Suicide Squad Assault on Arkham or Hell to Pay.

Plus, the gameplay loop is really addictive : every character plays differently, I mainly play Harley myself (lvl 20 for now) and I already know that I'm gonna lvl all the others characters.

I may even dive into the multiplayer thing for the endgame, but as I play essentially for the story, we'll see.

I sincerely believe that this game will be given a second chance the second it enters the gamepass program. Which, honestly, has to happen soon if Warner intends the game to survive.

Weekend Update: I bought Remenant 2 for £25 last night, and so far Im completely blown away. If you are considering picking this title up, please do, I cant imagine you would be dissapointed, Im really amazed at it.
Have fun!

Picked up oceanhorn 2 on sale and I like it so far, feels like playing windwaker. Has a side kick who can throw her sword like a boomerang
Also played a bit of division 2 with friends.

@Bobobiwan Well, with all that being said coming from a person with first-hand experience, it's probably non-biased and I will give it a chance at some point. I have quite the backlog I'm working on.

I will second @Titntin recommendation, Remnant 2 is one of the best co-op games I've ever played, and it's on gamepass now.

As for me, still working through Act 4 of Rogue Trader.

@ZYDIO Ah... The Backlog. I know what you mean. At the same time my best friend and my worst nemesis.
Good luck with yours !

Alrighty here we go with a jam packed edition of WAYP of this weekend. Where do I start ahaha. Started off the weekend with Mario Vs Donkey Kong and lemme tell you something that game is excellent. It’s beautiful, it’s fun and it brings me back to the old days when games were just games. Then I did some Splatoon 3 Splatfest yesterday and had some fun on new maps I’ve never played before. Team Friday Baby. Really looking forward to Side Order coming out so I can really enjoy Splatoon 3 again by sprinkling some multiplayer in beside the story mode progress like I did when the game first came out. It’s just a good combo of mindless fun and genuine progress. But I didn’t get too much time to Splat it up because last night I did something even better. I went out and had a awesome time with a awesome friend. Picked up a copy of Persona 3 Reload that I can’t wait to crack into and also grabbed the latest Chainsaw Man and JOJO Part 6 mangas as well as Encyclopedia Eorzeas 1 and 3 to complete the set. My friend I should mention also picked up some pretty damn preem books themselves if I do say so myself. But then we went to our main plans of the night and saw Madame Web. Small funny story of me looking at my phone during the previews and them nudging me saying look at the screen whereupon I fangirl out that Advent Bloody Children is on the screen. But as for the movie itself it was a good nice time that was a decent movie overall. Enjoyable at some parts and dull at others it’s not nearly bad as it was made out to be and I would say a enjoyable 7/10 or even 8/10. But of course while that was the highlight of the weekend I didn’t even mention that update from last week I finally did it. I finished the MSQ for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. All I gotta say is it was absolutely beautiful As for today and the week ahead it’s gonna be some more Cold Steel IV and trying out P3R and over the week just a general rotation of games. Some Granblue Fantasy Relink, Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, Post Endwalker Patch Quests, Another Code, Rain Code, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed and of course the Side Order for Splatoon 3 when that comes out on Thursday too. It’s mostly just a holding pattern if you ask me this week as I feel we’ll get a shadow drop of Hi Fi Rush at a partner showcase this week so I got some Eshop money saved for that and of course the Most Anticipated Game of the Year Final Fantasy VII Rebirth just the week after this. And man I really can’t wait for Princess Peach Showtime ahahah.Of course anime of the week gotta go to Frieren, Delicious in Dungeon, Urusei Yatsura, High Card and Hokkaido Gals. Podcasts of course gotta go to Castle Superbeast, Big Think Dimension, RPGsites Tetracast, Into the Aether, and Windbreaker and Firelink from Second Wind. I’ve actually run into some issues with my job so this week I don’t have as many podcasts to say I listened to because really I didn’t listen to much. Of course we wouldn’t be complete without a big special shout-out to someone very much SPECIALZ my good friend over at twitch.tv/akibread. Gonna be honest they streamed some NMH this week and I’m just saying if y’all want a fun time I think I might be friends with IRL Shinobu from NMH? I don’t know if that don’t get you to check them out I don’t know what will. As always y’all keep safe, be good to each other and have a awesome weekend. And Happy Gaming.

In the minority here, but I'll be heading back onto the high seas in Skull & Bones. I'm actually really enjoying it. People shouldn't compare to ACBF just due to the fact it has ships and water. Totally different game with different playstyle and gameloop. Remember when SoT launched? That was terrible until many updates later ... good game.
UBi are always great at adding content and updates.

Finally started Palworld and love it. Also just finished zombie army 4 which was fun

@OldGamer999
Wait sold ? Not traded but people tell me theyre selling there Xboxes

@ConsoleGamer86
Actually sold all new £409.99

@Bobobiwan I have over a thousand Xbox games now and I already know that I don't have enough time left in my life to play them all. I can't even think about all the ones I won't get to play or I would just be sad, so I have a list with a random game choice generator and I usually play what it tells me to, haha.