PS5 is next-gen magic in a pandemic

So, last Thursday marked the launch of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) in the UK and Europe. Arguably, Sony’s next-gen console is the must-have of this holiday season. More so than Microsoft's Xbox Series X and S if mainstream media coverage is to be believed and, as the lucky owner of a PS5, I can see why first-hand.

You managed to obtain a rarer than hen’s teeth PS5 whilst others couldn’t or had them cancelled (looking at you Currys PC World), I hear you cry? Well, having foregone both next-gen console pre-orders, to bump the spec of an imperative iMac upgrade, and the looming prospect of a COVID Christmas, I took a chance on launch day and ordered from John Lewis via the retailer’s iPad app as the site invariably crashed due to tens of thousands of eager fellow PlayStation enthusiasts.

To my genuine surprise and delight, the gamble paid off and a shiny Sony next-gen console was safely delivered very early the following day. John Lewis’ customer service is among the best and that free 2-year guarantee isn’t too shabby. Other retailers are available and your mileage may vary but praise where it’s due - especially during a pandemic.

Initial thoughts on the disc-based PS5 after a couple of days use. The console is by turns gigantic and Cupertino-designed spaceship sleek compared to previous generations. A far cry from the Atari VCS where my video game odyssey began with a cousin’s unwanted Christmas gift in 1980. My eight-year-old self would have jumped at the chance of owning a console and accessories in Imperial Stormtrooper livery. Rebels! Schmebels!

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Initial setup was buggy and a few apps crashed but that comes with day-one territory. Following a quick restart and system software update, the PS5 (mounted horizontally as if levitating a la Dua Lipa) runs whisper quiet and lightning-fast compared to its PlayStation 3 (PS3) and PlayStation 4 (PS4) predecessors. The solid-state drive (SSD) impresses. The Blu-ray disc drive supports 4K UHD, unlike the PS4 Pro.

The look and feel is premium next-gen in spite of a lack of customisation options for the dashboard (post-launch updates will fix that) and the DualSense controller is a joyful revelation: an inspired fusion of PlayStation and Nintendo innovation distilled in Astro’s Playroom (pre-loaded on every PS5). This gaming gem is haptic feedback heaven and here's hoping third-party developers utilise it.

The DualSense is my new favourite controller of all time after years of advocating the excellent Xbox controller over PlayStation’s DualShock (DS), which I've never got on with since the launch of the original PlayStation 25 years ago.

The day-one launch titles are impressive, most impressive (more so in the midst of a lockdown). As a lifelong fan of Marvel’s web-slinger, I had to get Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition and will buy Demon's Souls and Sackboy: A Big Adventure on Black Friday.

The PlayStation Plus Collection for PS5 is the icing on the cake for launch week. Days Gone, a first-party action-adventure survival horror video game that launched to mixed reviews in 2019, is way more fun than expected, Detroit: Become Human is stylistically at home on the PS5 and I can’t wait to revisit Horizon Zero Dawn ahead of Horizon Forbidden West.

PS4 backwards compatibility is every bit as superlative as the fine folks at Digital Foundry (DF) enthusiastically suggest. Sony should be shouting from the rooftops for the first time since PS3.



Before I wrap up this PS5 launch review. Jim Ryan, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s CEO and president has warned the console has sold out everywhere before Christmas.

“Everything is sold. Absolutely everything is sold,” Mr Ryan told Russian news agency TASS.

"I’ve spent much of the last year trying to be sure that we can generate enough demand for the product. And now in terms of my executive bandwidth I’m spending a lot more time on trying to increase supply to meet that demand."

Mr Ryan said that the COVID-19 outbreak may have impacted the number of consoles available at launch. “We might have had a few more to sell, but not very many: the guys on the production/manufacturing side have worked miracles,” he said in the interview.

If you missed out on pre-ordering or limited launch day stock, there's some good news this Black Friday. Walmart, Best Buy and GameStop restock this week. So, it may be a happy Thanksgiving for US-based fans after all.

To paraphrase teenage pop music crush Kylie, do I believe in magic? Why yes, I do. And don't we all deserve a fun fillip in these troubling times? As a fan of PlayStation since it was originally announced as a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), I can't wait to play without limits...

Did you manage to get a PS5 on launch day? Let me know in the comments below.

PlayStation celebrates 500 million consoles sold

Sony celebrates 500 million PlayStation consoles sold with a stylish limited edition PS4 Pro. The highly sought-after console was available to pre-order from selected stockists in the UK from 10:00AM this morning.

However, demand was so great, Smyths Toys website crashed, ShopTo sold out in seconds and Amazon UK mistakenly went live before 10:00AM. Such was the online retailer's error, the company has cancelled all pre-orders and contacted affected customers.

Anyone interested in pre-ordering from Amazon will be able to do so from 10:00AM Wednesday here (affiliate link). A commemorative DS4 is available here (affiliate link).

What are your first memories of PlayStation? Let me know in the comments below.

Kratos returns in God of War for PS4 this April

Sony has another PlayStation exclusive hit on its hands with the upcoming God of War for PS4 this April. Previews suggest first-party studio Santa Monica has outdone itself. So, in anticipation of the latest instalment in the franchise, here's my God of War 3 review for PS3, which I never got around to publishing on this blog, in all its gory glory...

God of War 3 is more Return of the Jedi than Return of the King. For gamers (myself included) who remember playing Greek myths on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, this is a wonderfully upscaled version of those ambitious 8-bit titles from the eighties.

Bayonetta, a darling of critics everywhere, left me cold [I've since become a huge fan in the intervening years and now own the original and Wii U sequel on Nintendo Switch]. Therefore, I was pinning my hopes on God of War 3 to reignite my thirst for the visceral hack and slash genre popularised by Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), Golden Axe and Devil May Cry.

It may be worth pointing out that I've never played PlayStation exclusive God of War or its first sequel - something I plan to redress once the remastered God of War: Collection is released [Never did get around to it. Because Mass Effect trilogy.]. To use a filmic analogy: I was about to watch Return of the Jedi without ever seeing Star Wars or The Empire Strikes Back. However, I had it on good authority that God of War 3 could be played without any prior knowledge.

Olympian video games have enthralled me since Gift from the Gods graced the Sinclair ZX Spectrum in 1984. Despite the generation gap, both Gift from the Gods and God of War 3 are epic revenge fantasies wrapped in the trappings of Greek mythology.

The player is plunged into the action as Kratos battles the undead to defend a female titan scaling Mount Olympus - much to the chagrin of the Gods. The frenetic pace, sweeping camera angles, aping Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and surround sound, induced a migraine and I was forced to put down the controller after only a few minutes of gameplay! This isn't a negative. It's symptomatic of an overwhelming opening sequence that the Clash of the Titans reboot would be envious of.

Death-dealing has never looked more picturesque than it does in God of War 3. The game's aesthetic is most reminiscent of BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic. To be honest, I'd, incorrectly, assumed that it was a BioWare release. It doesn't take a huge leap of imagination to see Kratos, himself, as a Sith Lord!

Much has been made of the visceral violence in God of War 3: from decapitating limbs to beheadings, in all of which you play a pivotal part. But, it's mostly operatic in nature and didn't disturb me as much as Resident Evil Code: Veronica - that game was the stuff of nightmares.

However, it's not exactly 'family-friendly' and I'd politely suggest thinking twice about playing this alongside a family game of Wii Sport Resorts! It's worth pointing out that amongst this melee, there's sexual content, too. The camera doesn't pan away, and you could find yourself fielding awkward questions from younger gamers.

This is the third act and has a satisfying conclusion, unlike most trilogies. For those of us who haven't played the previous instalments, there's now a compelling motivation to do so. But, I can't imagine that the franchise will end here. It's too lucrative and the PlayStation needs exclusives. However, I hope that the developers will allow Kratos to retire with dignity and serve up something fresh, exciting and worthy of the mantle.

By turns breathtaking and awe-inspiring, I was still left wondering if there could have been more imagination and less regurgitation applied to the development of such an auspicious title.

Detroit: Become Human arrives on PS4 this May

PlayStation exclusive film noir Heavy Rain (2010) remains one of my favourite games from last gen and I'm looking forward to David Cage and Quantic Dream's next opus. A neo-noir thriller 5 years in the making - it began life as a PS3 tech demo entitled "Kara".



Detroit: Become Human.

The latest PlayStation exclusive taps into the familiar trope of sentient artificial intelligence and its moral implications, most recently explored in AMC's Humans, HBO's Westworld and Blade Runner 2049.

“Detroit is by far the most ambitious title ever created by Quantic Dream,” said writer and director David Cage. “With this game, we wanted to push our limits by creating the most bending game we have ever made. Your actions have real and spectacular consequences.”

“Each story is almost as unique as your DNA,” added Cage. “It is the result of the choices you made — the minor ones and the important ones — because in Detroit, all choices matter.”



It remains to be seen whether it's more QuickTime (QT) events sans motion controllers, but I'm fine with that within the context of compelling character-driven choices and a branching storyline. It'll pass the time whilst waiting for CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077.

Detroit: Become Human is released on 25th May. Pre-order from Amazon. This is an affiliate link and as such, I may receive compensation for any referrals (at no extra cost to yourself).

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens gameplay trailer

TT Games has released new gameplay footage for LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens and it's a triumphant return to form for the beloved video game franchise.

The trailer showcases the franchise's trademark humour and brand new features in what could be the best LEGO video game tie-in to date.



LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is out on the 28th June for Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens this June

LEGO and Star Wars are a match made in geek heaven and a LEGO video game based on The Force Awakens is the kind of tie-in I can get behind.



The latest installment in the Star Wars saga to receive the TT Games treatment is confirmed on the Xbox Store website and bound for every gaming platform. Ever. Well, that's not strictly true.

Watch the awesome announcement trailer.



“We’re extremely proud of the LEGO Star Wars videogames, truly an incredible franchise that has sold more than 33 million copies and helped ignite a passion for numerous fun-filled LEGO games enjoyed by countless gamers around the world,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be pushing the series forward with innovative new gameplay mechanics, while also exploring new parts of the universe that are sure to excite and delight both LEGO and Star Wars fans, as well as newcomers to our games.”

“We are thrilled to be bringing back the LEGO Star Wars video game franchise, which kicked off such a beloved series of LEGO titles more than a decade ago,” said Ada Duan, Vice President, Digital Business & Franchise Management, Lucasfilm. “LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens allows players to experience the new film in a unique way that only TT Games can provide, combining signature humor with epic Star Wars action. With exclusive story content exploring new details about the movie and its characters, it’s a perfect fit for fans young and old.”

I'm in from day-one and there's exclusive content for PlayStation comprising the Droid Character Pack and Phantom Limb Level Pack! Incidentally, EA has discounted Star Wars Battlefront on the PlayStation and Xbox stores for a limited time. Took the plunge and picked up the Ultimate Edition for PS4. Feel free to add me on PSN: Marvel_Megatron and mention this blog.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is out on the 28th June for Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Sony and Spotify partner for PlayStation Music

Sony's shutting down its Music Unlimited subscription service this March and is bringing Spotify to a range of the company's devices including Xperia smartphones, tablets, PS3 and PS4. More devices to follow.

"Music is a core component of the entertainment offering that consumers expect from Sony, and our goal with PlayStation Music is to provide the most compelling music experiences," said Andrew House, president of Sony Computer Entertainment.

"This partnership represents the best in music and the best in gaming coming together, which will benefit the vibrant and passionate communities of both Spotify and PlayStation Network."

A Spotify Premium subscription will be required to use the service on PlayStation.

Gamers will be able to stream music in-game. Finally, I'll be able to play Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition underscored by John Williams' soundtrack for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Limited edition PS4 marks 20 years of PlayStation

Today Sony will announce pre-order details for its limited edition 20th anniversary PS4 during the company's keynote at the PlayStation Experience.

The console, in original gray to commemorate the brand that obliterated the Nintendo and SEGA duopoly, is limited to 12300 units. Most fans (including myself) will have to settle for the free classic PlayStation theme, which is downloadable from PSN. Pro-tip: disable Key Tone (found under Settings) to keep it old school.

The 20th anniversary PS4 will be available to pre-order from the Sony Store worldwide.

Will you be pre-ordering one? Let me know in the comments below.

PlayStation celebrates its 20th anniversary

What began life as an aborted Nintendo SNES CD-ROM add-on celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its launch in Japan this month.

Many happy returns of the day, PlayStation!

Sony's first foray into home consoles, the brainchild of Ken Kutaragi, was released at a time when I'd given up gaming (my undergraduate grant only went so far and I was the proud owner of an Apple Macintosh Performa). My enthusiasm was rekindled within seconds of seeing Ridge Racer's, now iconic, loading screen on a friend's freshly imported PlayStation. Who doesn't savour the visceral joy of blowing up alien spacecraft?



I wouldn't own a PlayStation, myself, until 1996 when I began a love affair with Tomb Raider that endures to this day. I've owned every iteration of PlayStation and the PS4 is, barring multimedia support lagging behind PS3, the best yet.

What's your first memory of PlayStation? Let me know in the comments below.

The quest to find Game of the Year

Tauriel, an Elf Mage, begins an epic quest...

2014 has, for the most part, been notable for video game re-releases on PS4 and Xbox One!

There were no clear contenders for Game of the Year (GotY) as in previous years, which has included Dishonored, Bioshock Infinite and Tomb Raider. Instead, the media was fixated on the PS4's seemingly insurmountable sales lead on Xbox One and the latter's price drop. Where were the compelling next gen games coming from?



PlayStation exclusive The Last of Us Remastered and GTA V for PS4 and Xbox One could be considered worthy of, permanent, pride of place on a bookshelf in their next gen incarnations. And may garner GotY for a second year running from gaming enthusiasts and critics alike.



Bungie's overblown blockbuster Destiny fell short of the studio's greatest achievements: Halo and Marathon. Offering shallow, but addictive, fun in the form of Fireteams. A week doesn't pass by when I don't play an Heroic Strike mission. Only to see teammates and myself strewn, hapless, across the desolate dunes of Mars.



Delays have lead to an overcrowded November, which includes the annual Call of Duty. However, I may have discovered my GotY: Dragon Age: Inquisition. In short, a compelling blend of Mass Effect meets Skyrim. I invested an hour customising my character, Tauriel (pictured at the start), before embarking on the 100 hour or more quest.

Honourable mention: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, which meshed Assassin's Creed with stablemate Batman: Arkham.

What say you, fellow gamer?

NOW TV has arrived on Xbox One

Last week NOW TV debuted on the PS4 and today it's the turn of Microsoft's multimedia powerhouse Xbox One!

"We're pleased that NOW TV has joined the ever growing list of entertainment apps and services on Xbox One," said Pawan Bhardwaj, UK Xbox Live product manager.

"Sky is an important partner for Xbox."

NOW TV joins an array of apps including Amazon Instant Video, Blinkbox, Netflix and YouTube. Not forgetting you can connect Sky+ and Virgin Media TV via HDMI to Xbox One and use the voice commands and OneGuide to control everything.

It's worth noting you no longer need an Xbox Live Gold subscription to stream content from third-parties.

The Xbox One is getting a 3D Blu-ray update next month. Add BBC iPlayer, DLNA or Plex and Xbox One becomes the quintessential multimedia streaming hub for the living room.

Join NOW TV here. No contract.

The Last of Us: One Night Live

The Last of Us is my favourite PlayStation game. Ever. There, I've said it.

To celebrate the launch of the PS4 version of The Last of Us, Naughty Dog brings last year’s Game of the Year to life in front of hundreds of fans in Santa Monica. This special one night only event will celebrate the artistry behind the game with a performance of the score, plus a “live read” of key scenes featuring the principal actors, as directed by Neil Druckmann. The creative team will also participate in a live audience Q&A.

The Last of Us: One Night Live contains spoilers. Consider yourself warned.



Getting The Last of Us Remastered for PS4? Let me know in the comments below.

NOW TV on PS4

For the past few months I've been beta testing NOW TV for PS4 and the app is now available for download.

Gidion Katz, director of NOW TV, said: “We're excited to be able to unveil yet another fantastic way to watch NOW TV – offering the huge number of PS4 customers in the UK a contract-free and flexible way of watching great pay TV content on their television.”

Fergal Gara, vice president and managing director for Sony Computer Entertainment UK, said: “PlayStation 4 has been a great success since we launched just over seven months ago, proving that the world’s most powerful console is also the best place to play. With the addition of the brilliant NOW TV to the PlayStation entertainment proposition, PS4 keeps getting better.”

Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. have been added to NOW TV's Entertainment Month Pass in time for the school holidays.

Episodes of Nickelodeon shows such as Sanjay and Craig and Spongebob Squarepants can be streamed on demand, as well as episodes of Nick Jr. programming including Peppa Pig and Dora the Explorer.

The NOW TV Entertainment Month Pass grants access to live and catch-up channels including Sky Atlantic, Sky1, Disney Channel and Fox for £4.99 per month with no contractual obligation.

NOW TV is available on multiple devices and is coming to Xbox One this summer.

Sign up to a NOW TV pass here. No contract.

Destiny Beta brings Bungie's brilliance to the fore

The Destiny Beta coincided with my dad's 72nd birthday and topped off a wonderful day! Once the 10GB download had finished that is.

Last month I got to play the Destiny Alpha and couldn't stop thinking how beautiful the game looked. Clearly developer Bungie has tweaked the graphical fidelity for the Beta build and it's even more gorgeous to look at with exceptional detail and contrast. Lavish visuals underpinned by a sumptuous soundtrack that compares favourably with Halo, Mass Effect and TRON: Legacy.



This feels and plays like a finished game. Seriously. The Beta literally thrusts the player into the beginning of the main campaign and sets up its enigmatic premise, which I won't spoil for readers who wish to wait for the final release this September.

Ride a Sparrow and recreate the Speeder Bike chase from Return of the Jedi!



Peter Dinklage's Ghost no longer breaks suspension of disbelief and his performance is as assured as Game of Thrones.

The Destiny Beta has impressed me so much I've cancelled most (if not all) of my pre-orders during the upcoming holiday season and can't wait to unbox the Limited Edition on day-one! Only August's The Last of Us Remastered and Bungie's Halo: The Master Chief Collection have survived the cull.



Bungie's latest may also be its greatest. Now it's simply a matter of waiting, impatiently, for September...

Have you played the Beta? Let me know in the comments below.

Bungie's beautifully bleak Destiny

During this year's PlayStation press conference at E3, PS4 owners were given the opportunity to sign up for Destiny First Look Alpha before next month's beta. On Thursday I received an invite code and dutifully downloaded the 6.7GB Alpha from PSN. Midnight passed by in a flurry of visual virtuosity...

With an alleged budget of $500 million dollars the weight of expectation weighs oh-so-heavily on this new IP. However, developer Bungie and publisher Activision may have a killer app to rival Halo and Call of Duty franchises!



Initial impressions are positive and the game only crashed once! Destiny looks beautiful, Killzone: Shadow Fall beautiful, and evokes Bungie's earlier opuses: Halo and Marathon. There's a Mass Effect and Phantasy Star Online vibe, which compelled me to create a human character in homage to Miranda Lawson. Incidentally, actress Yvonne Strahovski is deftly holding her own in 24: Live Another Day.

Is it me or is Peter Dinklage's Ghost bereft of emotion? The beloved Game of Thrones actor is no match for Cortana or EDI and at times he sounds sardonic, which may or may not be his intention. Just hear him say "It can't be... It's the hive!", without sniggering. Bill Nighy seems to be having more fun.

The Alpha is a teaser of what to expect this September. I played story mode, without so much as a tutorial or context, with several other PSN friends and random players joined in on the action too. Friendly fire is not a good tactic, in the midst of an epic battle, and I wasn't the one firing! Looting is addictive and brings Borderlands to the table amidst the Halo and Mass Effect design cues.

Looking forward to Destiny? Let me know in the comments below.

Conan O'Brien reviews Watch Dogs

Much has been made of Ubisoft's Watch Dogs review embargo, which ends tomorrow.

This doesn't appear to apply to US television host Conan O'Brien who gets his hands on this summer's most anticipated new IP for an hilarious 'Clueless Gamer' feature.



Are you getting Watch Dogs? Let me know in the comments below.

Kevin Spacey in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

House of Cards collides with Michael Bay in the next installment of the Call of Duty franchise this November.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare stars Kevin Spacey who's playing a nefarious role in a near-future war.

"Ideas don't determine who is right. Power determines who is right. And I have the power. So I'm right," intones Spacey's character. Shades of Frank Underwood?



Developer Sledgehammer Games is concentrating on current gen consoles PS4 and Xbox One and high-end PC. This year's game ushers in the three-year development cycle for each title, where Sledgehammer, Infinity Ward and Treyarch will take turns developing annual Call of Duty games.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is released on November 4.

NOW TV coming to PS4 this summer

NOW TV and Sky Go are coming to PS4 from this summer.

Fergal Gara, VP and MD for Sony Computer Entertainment UK said: "Now TV has been a great addition to the PlayStation 3 entertainment portfolio, so bringing it to the new PS4 is going to delight all users of the newest, most powerful member of the PlayStation family. Sky Go joining both PlayStation platforms further enhances our credentials as the ultimate gaming and entertainment package."

Sky points out: "Sky Go includes all six Sky Sports channels, Eurosport, 11 Sky Movies channels, great entertainment from Sky Atlantic and third party channels such as FOX, plus hours of shows from Nickelodeon and others. Now TV is the contract-free internet streaming service from Sky that provides instant access to hundreds of films from Sky Movies on demand, pay-as-you-go access to live Sky Sports and must see shows on 10 of the best pay TV channels including Sky1, Sky Atlantic and Sky Living."

Find out more at nowtv.com.

The Last of Us: Remastered listed for PS4

Sony accidently posted this banner art for The Last of Us: Remastered! It briefly appeared on the Sony Entertainment Network, but the pre-order link lead to a "Page not found" notice.

Purportedly the PS4 port will include the Left Behind expansion and all Season Pass DLC.

A Sony spokesperson told Polygon that "At no time have we announced that The Last of Us is coming to PS4 and therefore, have nothing to say on the subject." The award-winning title was a PS3 exclusive released last year.

Update
Sony's confirmed the release of the much-anticipated game this summer!

The PS4 edition will feature increased graphical fidelity and in-game cinematic commentary from actors Troy Baker (Joel) and BAFTA-winner Ashley Johnson (Ellie).

Creative director Neil Druckmann took to Twitter to add that Naughty Dog is targeting the holy grail of 60fps for the game.

I rarely double-dip, but this is a day-one purchase. You can pre-order today.



A movie adaptation has been green-lit by Screen Gems, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Who would you like to see play Joel and Ellie on the big screen?

Sans Sky? Here's how to watch Game of Thrones S4

There's no reason for Game of Thrones fans to miss the S4 premiere Two Swords on Sky Atlantic!

With NOW TV's Entertainment Month Pass you can watch 10 channels including Sky One, Sky Atlantic and FOX for £4.99 per month (introductory price). Find out more at nowtv.com.

Sky's streaming service is available across multiple devices including PS3, Xbox 360 and NOW TV Box, which I reviewed here. Incidentally, the NOW TV Box may be receiving a 1080p firmware update in the near future.

There's no contract. What's not to like? Unleash those dragons, Daenerys!