Be Excellent To Each Other

Plenty of people choose to buy one or the other or even both consoles due to exclusive titles.

Sony paid for the game to be developed so I think it's fair enough. Embargoed timed exclusives can fuck off though.

I thought there wasn't much profit in the hardware though?

If Sony paid for the development of the game, wouldn't they want to sell as many copies as possible, even to XBox owners?

Maybe I'm missing some clever business stuff here, but to me it just seems stupid to deliberately not sell your game to millions of people.

I fail to believe that you, of all people, don’t get the business case for exclusivity. It looks like deliberate trolling.

But surely Nintendo want to sell as many copies of Mario as possible, hence the megadrive release...

Well it doesn't make any sense to me, just seems like a really good way to sell fewer games. Unless Sony/MS are making out like bandits on the hardware, or it's all about getting people locked into their 'ecosystem' and recurring payments for things like Gold/Game Pass/etc, it simply looks like a serious case of foot-shooting.

The days of people choosing a SNES or a Megadrive because they wanted Mario or Sonic are long gone, and with so much stuff being multi-platform these days (and so many other ways to consume games, not least mobile and tablet), console exclusives are something of an anachronism to my mind.

Exclusives probably are rarer these days, but when Xboxes and PS4s are very similar (at least to someone like me who doesn't keep up with either format), a few good exclusives could sway the decision for someone. I imagine a fair few people have stuck with Xboxes for Halo for instance.

You are aware of the licensing fee that they get for every game sold on their system, right?

It makes perfect sense for them to sell their systems over just selling games.

Oh right, I didn't know that, in which case it makes far more sense.

I thought that licensing fee stuff was shit Nintendo did in the 80s and 90s.

I'm really quite out of the loop on consoles.

Turns out we're up to God of War 4 on XB1X anyway, which is not only exclusive to XBox but also enhanced for XB1X.

Plus it's got soldiers with guns in it and shit, none of this primitive axe nonsense.

Another clear victory for Team Microsoft.

I’ve had to buy this. It’s, like, the biggest game eva at the minute and avoiding spoilers is almost like not watching an episode of Game of Thrones when it’s broadcast. Bloody social media. Sure, you can not click on any links but there’s always some twat that says “You won’t believe the twist end” or some shit.

I know, I never thought we'd see Hermes again, of all people. That was a shock.



(Not a real spoiler. Obv. )

I’ve played a couple of hours and as a miserable jaded gamer I’ve only two words to say:

Holy. Fuck.

This has blown me away. Mind you, I think it’s because I’ve put it on the highest difficulty available and the game plays like Dark Souls. 3 hits from the first enemy I met and I was dead. Two hits from some big fucker and I was dead. Dead, dead, dead. That’s when you git gud. And this combat feels GUD. Hard as fuck just like Kratos. Except when I’m playing him. He falls over a lot.

I’ve played up to the bit with the boat (ala Resident Evil 5). This game is fucking stunning, isn’t it? I’m amazed no one but me and Pundy have even played it.

I completed it a couple of weeks ago. It was fucking amazing.

I'm considering letting it jump my queue, but I'm not getting much gaming time in general at the moment for various reasons and I definitely want to get into Dishonored 2 so that still probably means it'll be like August or something.

He means boning.

Got this on a deal for £34 the other day (then promptly got noticed it was on offer for £22 but couldn't cancel it).

Played it a bunch over the weekend, an absolutely fantastic game so far. If you're sitting on the fence about whether or not to get it, go and get it you won't regret it.

A friend of mine finished his at the weekend and is posting it to me, looking forward to it (once I've finished being God of the Wasteland in Mad Max).

The best bit of the new GoW is when you start it up and have that picture of a mountain and then your TV flicks on and off as it powers up your HDR engine and the mountain comes back on screen and looks gorgeous and vibrant.

My TV seemingly whilst is 4k doesn't like HDR; I'm sure someone can explain to me why but, still looks amazing on mine.

Not all 4K TVs are HDR capable.

Note that you may just need to turn HDR on - Microsoft can help with that: https://www.windowscentral.com/xbox-one-x-hdr

I think mine isn't compatible, when we first got it we had a bunch of issues with the software being out of date; we called up Toshiba and they sent out the update on a 16 GB flash drive (it was like 300mbs) so whilst it was mildly annoying that we had to wait I was super excited about the free 16 gig drive.

Also, some 4K TVs only do HDR through HDMI 1. One of my Samsung’s is like this for what I assume is a penny pinching move on their part. Or mine.

4k is good enough for me, the TV was cheap enough so can't really complain.

I’m going to say that this is The Last of Us or Resident Evil 4 for this generation. It’s that good.

I started it last night and got as far as a big troll who kept handing my arse to me and turned it off as I was tired. Was slightly underwhelmed by the lack of feedback I was getting from hitting the troll with my massive axe. Obviously early doors so not in the groove yet. Will persevere again this evening.

The trolls are super easy. He swings super slow, when the yellow flashes dodge!!

I give up. PS4 wins, there are TOO MANY GAMES on it that I want.

I still really like my XB1X though.

There's no point buying Wipeout unless you buy a VR set as well. They've just dropped the price on it again...

Just an FYI to people who might play this, it’s a direct follow up to previous God of War games (despite the name) so you might want to play those or just read the story or summats, I ain’t telling you how to live your life.

I've not played any of the previous ones. Assumed there was never much of a story to contend with. Oh well, enjoying gow4. May play 3 at some point in future, but I haven't the time to become a series vet.

It’s not a prerequisite by any means. Just read a summary and jump in.

I’m surprised by the world they’ve built here, much of it is optional and completely missable. There’s areas the main mission isn’t interested in showing you but the side quests are awesome. There’s 3 dragons waiting to be released because, why the fuck not. It’s just a pleasure to roam around in and visit the different places and do some quests, do a few badass enemies, do a few puzzles, Christ, there’s absolutely no need but I don’t think I’d feel I’ve appreciated what they’ve built here if I didn’t do the vast majority on offer.

Finished! Fucking amazing.

I will definitely launch this game in the next couple of days. It's the thing that tipped me over into buying the console, I'm just exploring other things first. Plus I can play Wipeout and Super Stardust and Nex Machina whilst Jnr is in the room, whereas God of War will have to wait until she's gone upstairs.

Playing Wipeout without VR isn't worth it. If it helps, there's an official charge stand you could spunk an extra £50 on?

Wow, Teal'c from Stargate SG1 voices Kratos now!?

Woah this game comes out swinging! (Literally, as well as figuratively.)

I got the last episode of THE STAIRCASE watched downstairs in the kitchen before Mrs H and Jnr went upstairs, so as soon as I had the lounge to myself (19:35 on the dot as usual, Jnr is very precise) I kicked the game off. (I already had the PS4 turned on with the GOD OF WAR icon highlighted, ready to get going).

Next thing I know it's 11pm and I'm ready to call an end to the session, mind blown at just how fucking good this game is.

No spoilers here of course (and I've only just got going anyway), and I should note I've never played any of the other games in this series. However, right from the off the game let me know what was going on, who the protagonists are, and why I should care about them - I was invested in it immediately, I bought into the game world and the character I'm playing.

It kind of does the standard issue 'tutorial' level where you're getting used to the controls, but the combat starts out tough (I'm on the normal difficulty level, there's two above normal and one below) and really doesn't fuck about. The standard enemies are dangerous enough, and the first boss fight handed my arse to me on a plate, many times over, until I achieved a degree of competency in battle, and the second one (there are two boss fights in what you'd call the first level) just as much so - but by crikey it's satisfying to take the bastards out.

I'm doing my standard issue playstyle of trying to explore every nook and cranny, and there all sorts of goodies and secrets to find if you have a poke about, little puzzles to solve and suchlike.

It looks and sounds amazing, I don't really like the pad controls but that's just me not being very good at using a pad, and I was getting better at them as the session went on.

It's early doors yet, but unless this suddenly turns into a completely different game, it seems to be real top drawer material.

MY WEEKEND BY HEARTHLY AGED 44.

Friday night - Played God of War until it was too late to carry on playing.

Saturday night - See Friday night.

THE END.

Sunday night, see previous entries.

I think the last time combat felt this good was Borderlands 2.

I love the way it's really tough but scrupulously fair, the regular deaths are no problem because there's no real loading time to speak of and it generally puts you right back at the start of the fight you just died on, so no running back to the area or twaddle like that.

The relationship between Kratos and Atreus is wonderfully well done, and I'm genuinely invested into wanting to find out how it develops. Atreus is also a great AI companion, I was slightly worried the game would be one massive annoying escort quest but it's no such thing, he's not just useful, he's essential.

Worth getting the console for? I certainly don't regret it.

Oh mate, the game is so SO good, I've completed the main mission and going for all the secrets now; definitely my favourite GoW to date.

Watching the way the relationship between Kratos and Atreus develops throughout the story is really nice, seeing Kratos softening up a little but NOT TO MUCH BECAUSE HE MUST SHOUT BOY.

Top tip for you below for later on;

That's five straight evenings I've done nothing but play God of War.

Ordinarily, even with a game I'm really into, I'll take an evening off to watch a film or suchlike, but God of War has leapfrogged over everything else and is consuming every 'evening slot' of entertainment. I'm even playing it when Jnr is in the room, albeit limiting myself to peaceful pursuits and the crafting/character screens and whatnot. (She's nearly 14 anyway, but I am mindful that the game is an 18.)

She is very interested in the game and asks lots of questions about Kratos and Atreus, and loves the way they interact with each other.

I do get a bit fingers and thumbs when the combat really kicks off, and I think I'm about at the limit of how many button combos I can keep in my head at once, (the way the controls change when you've got the axe in hand, and when not, still catches me out sometimes), but it's not a major problem. (If I feel a fight hasn't gone well I just let myself die and have another go, the checkpointing is consistently superb and pretty much without fail just puts you right back at the start of the fight that killed you.)

Oh yes and it's got a manual save as well, so hooray for that. YES I'M STILL LOOKING AT YOU BIOSHOCK INFINITE.

As a single player experience it reminds me of how I felt first playing through the original Max Payne, seventeen years ago, I want to find everything out about the story, the characters, the world, and to experience every last beat of the combat and encounters.

I am surprised, frankly, that this game isn't generating more love here at BEEX. If you have a PS4, you really should have this, and if you haven't got a PS4, get one, and then get this.

I sold my PS4 and got an Xbox because you said they were really good.

And you’re on your third car in so many months...

I've unlocked all the abilities and such for the axe, SO many times I forget I've thrown my axe and I'm trying to do something else with it and it isn't working and I'm getting mad because "WHY ISN'T MY AXE THROWING1?!!?" Yeah that never goes away lol.

That doesn't sound like the sort of thing I'd say

In fairness the XB1X is a really good console. In terms of hardware, UI, controllers*, store, features etc I'd say it's the better system, but the PS4 has some games you just can't get anywhere else.

* The XBox pad design is just SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better than the DS design. Also the DS has a shit built-in battery whereas the XBox pads just take good old AAs. The first thing I Googled about my PS4 experience was 'Dualshock poor battery life'.

EDIT - Is there a 'main' PS4 thread like there is for XBox One?

I was exactly the same with the axe! Still, great combat even if the move set is a bit limited (and any moves that require a stance switch aren’t well implemented. The pause between switching stance is far too long). It ain’t exactly DmC but it does a good job.

I loved mucking around in each area finding all the chests or looking for three runes to open a chest. They packed a reasonable amount into each area for the most part.

Hardware: yes.
UI: not even fucking close
Store: not even fucking close
Features: it still doesn’t even let you record fucking chat!



Nope. Smaller hands find the DualShock better in my experience. And the D pad is better.



Why did you google that? I doubt your pad has died in a month of usage. Personally, I find it disgusting that Xbox doesn’t give you a rechargeable controller out the box. Who wants to buy batteries these days? But you can get a rechargeable Xbox pad yet you need to spend even more money. And they ain’t exactly dirt cheap. When your competition gives them away I reckon it’s a piss take. I’ve had my OG PS4 since release and the OG DualShock is still going. So, whatevs?