I spent 4 hours hands on with Crimson Desert and walked away more intrigued than worried.
The combat has teeth. Traversal is genuinely ambitious. The control scheme...needs polish.
Pearl Abyss is swinging for the fences in 2026.
Full written preview at Press Start:
press-start.com.au/previews/202...
www.ign.com/videos/world...
Just did a vid / script / VO for IGN. Pretty pleased with how some of the more awful puns came out. Enjoy.
Eternal's still king. But one helluva ride.
Catch my 'Clocked It On Ultra-Nightmare Difficulty' thoughts on DOOM: The Dark Ages on May 9th!
@Bethesda_ANZ
#DoomTheDarkAges
I regret that I can only heart this once.
The Nintendo DS turns 20 in Oz today. A brightly backlit frontier opened up to me when I first opened the clamshell of this silver beast. In time, it birthed the DS Lite, DSi, and DSi XL to the tune of 154M units sold. Also, bangers aplenty in its insane 3,000+ games library.
![Elden Ring Nightreign [PS5 Pro] 4K60 Network Test [No Commentary]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dhstgt32lquvrimb2j5fwbhk/bafkreifqlhvkpdckysecqlpvrpd4osofxy7hj5xc5ne2who7mpu6mw5o3i@jpeg)
Well, I'm addicted to #EldenRingNightreign and the zippy as hell, bane of kidneys everywhere Duchess class. Here it is running on a PS5 Pro rather well indeed. Can't wait to play more. youtu.be/8sosoHGVX3w?...
You're the shit, JG.
Gran Turismo 2—two PS One discs I played the absolute scratch 'n' sniff off of, for an "authentic pit stop smell"—is 25. Just a brilliant sequel with more cars (650) and more tracks (27 plus rallying) and my very first exposure to Laguna Seca's corkscrew. Thanks for signing, Kaz.
Kirby's Fun Pak (aka Super Star) is 28. This 8-game platformer omnibus was uncommonly equipped with two-player co-op. A mate and I loved playing Spring Breeze (Kirby's Dream Land abridged) and The Great Cave Offensive (a Metroidvania teeming with Nintendo stablemate references).
It's been 16 years since we (repeatedly and hilariously) flung ourselves down Mega Compounds and into the Hall of Meat in Skate 2. This sequel was a pretty phenomenal upgrade over the OG, and cemented the franchise as a proper threat to the Birdman's Pro Skater empire. Holds. Up.
Super Mario Kart is 32. My neighbour got this at launch and months were spent perfecting green shellings and powerslides in 2P grudge matches. The combat racing concept hooked us from the very first green light. There's little wonder why this is now a 180M-copies-sold series.
Great game. Brilliant mascot design. Sackboy: A Big Adventure didn't quite scratch the itch. Somebody bring back the burlap.
LittleBigPlanet 2, that sacktacular PS3 classic that elevated 2.5D platforming and user-generated content to new heights, is 14. My mates and I sunk tons of hours into the co-op campaign and then the hilaribad physics of Super LBP Fighter II Turbo. Truly, a golden age of UGC.
This my favourite reference on the Citadel.
It's been 29 years since I used an ice cream van to dispense post-apocalyptic vehicular violence with a clown instead of overpriced Cornettos. That inaugural Twisted Metal would go on to spawn 10 titles produced by a variety of devs, plus a surprisingly decent TV show.
Happy 37th birthday Metroid. I played the absolute cartridge pins off you in the Aussie bicentennial obsessed year of 1988. You've been on an unstoppable [morph ball] roll ever since.
My saviour. The mid in-game brawl disconnection problems were real. Always a pleasure to see you.
I've cooked a trash can roast feast for the 32nd birthday of Streets of Rage 2, a seminal beat 'em up and massive personal favourite I played the cartridge pins off. Most notably, this ever rightward punk-punch-a-palooza had one of the most jam-pumping OSTs of its time.
Thank you for bringing this into my life.
The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down had a sequel?! No wait. I remember that. *Shudders*
Figured as much. Because you're a scientist.
Yeah, these daily birthday dealios make one feel ancient. Probably the strongest memories of this I have are of Mark Hamill smashing it as the shopkeeper (Vulgrim) and being surprised when Portal....er, portals showed up in the endgame puzzling.
Darksiders is 15! It didn't exactly gallop the genre forward, but was an intoxicating amalgamation of 2000s-era mechanics. Still worth saddling up for deity infights, Joe Mad comic art, and to finally see what War is in fact good for (mass slaughter with a sword the size of God's own letter opener).
Wish I could have stayed there. Now I'm jealous of a console.
I don't have the context, but it's not required. Be well, Mr. Imms. Thinking of you.
Wishing you levels of Christmas cheer that go to infinity and beyond.
In addition to Jeebus, I'm celebrating the 28th birthday of Christmas NiGHTS, arguably gaming's greatest goodwill limited edition freebie. I adore this advent calendar / demo disc. Play it every year without fail.
