PlayStations’ State Of Plays are always a mixed bag. Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are disappointing, but sometimes (like this time) they are just adequate. There was a mix of everything for everyone, and some games we were shown are now on my radar going into 2023. PSVR2 is going to make up a huge part of my game playing next year. Despite the PlayStation 5 being out for a while some of these games will also be on PS4. Let’s break down the most exciting announcements from the show!
Tekken 8
Tekken 8 had been rumored and teased recently and Namco Bandai has officially recognized and announced it’s existence. The use of the two chain links for the “8” is really clever and a nice logo design. The fight that breaks out between Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima against a dark rain soaked is a mixture of in-engine gameplay and cut scenes, all of which look phenomenal running on PS5 hardware.
As mentioned in the Playstation Blog post about the game:
This trailer was actually taken directly from a certain part in the current work-in-progress Tekken 8’s story mode, played on PlayStation 5. In other words, all the character models, backgrounds, and effects are the same ones that are used in-game. Although this was captured from the story mode, it is not a pre-rendered movie made for the trailer but rather real-time rendered footage, running at 60 frames per second, similar to how you would experience the game in versus battle modes.
I’m not a big fighting game fan, but I have to admit the game looks stunning and I can’t wait to see more competent gamers play it.
Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy’s Edge(Enhanced Edition)
Coming to the PSVR2, this is an improved port of the same game that was originally released on the Oculus. Tales From The Galaxy will take advantage of the newer tech in the PSVR2 such as eye-tracking and haptic feedback.
The basic premise is outlined over at the PlayStation Blog post for the game:
You’ll begin your story as a droid repair technician who gets swept up into a grand adventure when you crash land on the planet Batuu following an attack by the Guavian Death Gang. This kicks off a series of extraordinary events, proving that anyone in the galaxy can become a hero.
As a Star Wars fan and a big supporter of VR tech I am looking forward to getting my hands on this one when the PSVR2 launches sometime next year!
Demeo
Demeo is a D&D style game but in VR. The development team is aiming to recreate that game night feel by going all in on the immersive tech behind the PSVR2 and they are being ambitious with the game. Take a read at what they plan on doing with the game from this excerpt on the PlayStation Blog post:
The visual fidelity of both PlayStation 5 and PS VR2 have given us plenty of reason to revisit our graphics to take advantage of what’s possible on PlayStation hardware. If you thought the heroes and monsters looked intimidating before, just wait until you see them with our latest shaders! Refresh rate is a crucial part of creating a comfortable virtual experience too, which is why we’re delighted to take advantage of the 120hz refresh on the PS VR2.
Thanks to hardware-level eye tracking capabilities, we’ll also be able to bring a little magic to our menus: PS VR2 players will be able to make selections in Demeo’s menus with little more than the blink of an eye. It’s a surprisingly fast experience that gets you into your next game in no time flat.
I’m not a Tabletop RPG guy at all, not for a lack of interest but mainly a lack of experience, and I am hoping I can find a couple of people to play this game with as it sounds ambitious and like the kind of thing VR was made for. Let’s hope 2023 gets here sooner!
Like A Dragon: Ishin
Sega’s Studio RGG is digging out a new era in it’s long running Yakuza series for western audiences. There have been several Edo Japan Era Yakuza games but none of them have released outside of Japan until now. Ishin is based on a true story about a legendary Japanese historical figure who brought an end to the era of the Samurai in japan and brought it into the western modern day (also known as the Meiji Restoration). It appears like the gameplay will feature traditional brawling, swordplay, and gunplay in the mix!
Here is what the developers have to say about this new exciting title:
Like a Dragon: Ishin brings in familiar faces to tell this epic historical tale. Fans will recognize our protagonist as Kazuma Kiryu from earlier entries in the franchise. In Ishin, Kiryu is cast as Sakamoto Ryoma and brings the rest of his crew along too. Goro Majima and other Yakuza celebrities join Ryoma as friends and foes in this fictional world that trades the flashy streets of Tokyo for the chaotic bustle of 1860s Kyo. These new character dynamics are as thrilling as they are unexpected, with a series of mind-blowing twists and turns in a story only RGG studio can tell.
This will be one to watch for sure, and if you haven’t played Yakuza: Like A Dragon then you are truly missing out!
Stellar Blade
Stellar Blade looks absolutely . . . well, stellar! originally announced around a year ago at PlayStations’ September State of Play(2021) as Project Eve, it has since undergone a name change. The combat and fluidity in this game looks impressive and dazzling! Studio Shift Up Corp. says this:
Eve and her comrades land on the surface to reclaim the extinct Earth and cross paths with a survivor named Adam. Eve is then led by Adam to the last surviving city, Xion, where she meets the elder of the town Orcal and is told many stories. In order to serve her mission to save Earth, Eve develops close relationships with the key members of Xion and contributes to rebuilding the city. On a mission to save Earth from the NA:tive, Eve is also faced with helping out the citizens of Xion. Whether you will help the survivors or not, depends purely on your decision as the player.
The particle effects, the precision during slow-mo, and the overall action elements of the title look truly next-gen! The story sounds pretty interesting as well, I just hope the color palette in the final game looks less bland and brown and pops a bit more.
God Of War: Ragnarok
Admittedly I wasn’t feeling so hot on this game up until now. The game’s environment and overall setting weren’t really selling it for me. This trailer finally convinced me to pick up this game on day 1 rather than wait for a sale. It looks gorgeous! The action seems frantic and high-energy and some of the cutscenes were simply amazing. Kratos holding that beast back so that Atreus can get nice bow shot in looked dope! Atreus shooting at the Sun and it becoming night right away was an awe-inspiring cinematic to see. November 9th cannot get here soon enough!
Closing Thoughts
Was everything a hit at this State Of Play presentation? No, not necessarily. I didn’t mention everything that was shown, just the stuff that I believe is the most exciting. That said I do believe there was something for everyone here. I saw plenty of stuff to get me excited for next year, especially on the VR front. Stellar Blade looks like my jam. God Of War has won me over. And Like A Dragon: Ishin will be a Day 1 purchase for me!
What are your thoughts on this presentation? Did it suck? Was it everything you wanted? Let us know in the comment section down below! Be sure to subscribe to GeekNewsNow for more coverage of everything geeky! Want more opinion pieces and reviews about games? Then check out some of the stuff I have written here. Also check out my videogame podcast, DuoSense on all podcast services! Every week we cover gaming news and recent games we have been playing on there. I would greatly appreciate your support. As always stay geeky out there everyone!
