Now playing?

Yeah, I wasn't so sure about it when it was announced, just looked like another brightly coloured, over the top douche bag type thing. It was a free DL when I got my Xbox1, so naturally I grabbed it, downloaded it, and tried it. I wasn't so sure at first, but then I kept thinking about it, went back and gave it a real go. I've mentioned it before, the game feels to me like an awesome combination of Jet Set Radio, Tony Hawk, and Saints Row. There are some truly awesome boss fights and very memorable scenarios, and the controls begin to feel very intuitive for such an odd set of mechanics (lots of grinding on wires and ledges, bouncing, etc. Think Spiderman but without the web, very fast, big air in open spaces, wall runs, just crazy, open ended shit!), and the world is beautiful and has this amazing new concept, a colour pallet with more than just grey, black, brown, silver, and red! This being Insomniac, creators of Ratchet and Clank, the WEAPONS are absolutely insane, too! There's a nuke modifier I had on my exploding teddy bear launcher (don't ask, it's an amazing weapon) than was such a treat to see go off and INCINERATE a huge mob of those pustule covered mutant assholes! I was choked that there is no new game plus once you beat it, but you can still bang around in the world after the game proper is done. Sunset Overdrive is a very underplayed game, and I'm sure it would have a lot more fans if it got a green light for a port to the PS4. Sunset Overdrive and Forza Horizon (the series) are easily my favourite xbox exclusives, Gears and Halo can suck it (gears less so, it's still pretty good!).

Got the retro itch again and played some Sega Saturn today. I should be going back to Yakuza 0 soon though. Don't know if anyone else can relate here, but I literally got way too many awesome games to play that I may never catch up. I guess that's a good problem to have.

Been playing Spider-Man on the PS4 such a great game

I'm already scared of how close to finishing Spiderman I am after just two days of playing. At 50% completion, not many collectables and whatnot left, though probably about as much story as I've already seen to go. So damn fun I can't get enough.

Try Spiderman for a bit, it's one of those once every few years holy shit that blew my mind type titles, the thing drips with love and attention to every detail, it's a real treat as far as action games go, and a bit of a rarity in how BRIGHT and vibrant everything is (not another dark, brooding antihero in a dark, brooding grey/brown world performing ultra-violent acts on all comers with extra points awarded for the extent of brutality you issue, not that those games suck, it's just this game is bright, funny, and great at the same time!). It's a pile of fun, even if you're not a huge fan of the Marvel Universe (just like Batman Arkham games would be amazing without the DC licence and you were controlling an angry garbage man or something!), and swinging around the city never seems to get old.

I finished Kiwami before starting Yakuza Zero. It was cool stepping back and seeing Kamurocho circa 1988, it seemed much seedier and dirtier, the place was a playground for rich people who also treated it like a toilet. I love the Zero Kamurocho, it's pretty sweet, but it would be a trip to go from Zero to Kiwami. I found myself thinking "Oh THAT'S what they were talking about in Kiwami!" more that a few times since I've been playing through Zero, like you're in on the reference or the joke or the story. Kiwami was a blast to play through, especially with MAJIMA EVERYWHERE! I thought I would get tired of hearing "KIRIU-CHAN!" all of the time, knowing that another tough fight was just around the corner, but as you improve your skills, the Majima fights are more entertaining and offer a huge chunk of experience to level up with! The mini games are as preposterous as ever (Mesu King... WTF...), and there's shit tons to keep you occupied (I've always wanted to learn to play Mahjong, and there's a mahjong club in the game...) so I think you'll dig Kiwami, but maybe hang up your Daikon Nunchaku, your pager, and your three pack a day smoking habit in that crappy apartment in Kamurocho, and give spiderman a try first! :)

  As someone who grew up with Nintendo and later PS, I wouldn't say Nintendo has more identity but more history for sure. I do know what you mean though. I think its mainly because most of Nintendo's 1st party games are in house, hence why they all have a similar feel to them. Whereas Sony's 1st party games are usually their outside studious like Santa Monica Studious, Sucker Punch, Insomniac, etc. Each having their own distinctive style.