Cloud Monday - SkyGunner - Part 2 - Gameplay Takes Practice, But It's Great To Play Via The Cloud

This week's Cloud Monday video is part 1 of playing SkyGunner on PS4 via the PlayStation Plus Cloud Streaming Service to my Japanese launch model PlayStation 4.

In Part 1, https://youtu.be/f5OsmwasRy8, it was clear that this was going to be ok to stream from the cloud because we're able to save at any point by pressing the Options button on the PS4 controller. what we learned from Part 2 was that the only way to save via the game itself was to save and exit the game via the pause menu. so playing it as a PS2 game on PS4/PS5 is the best way to play it via the cloud.

In this part we also saw how it would play if there were some streaming issues. things like macroblocking weren't that much of an issue because of how big everything in the game is, we're not loosing the small pieces of detail as there aren't much anyway. but the stream tearing, when grey appears on the screen, was more of an issue because this game is 4:3. when the grey appears, more critical video of the action is missing. thankfully, as we're able to pause the game via the emulation software by pressing options, we can stop the game and either wait for things to improve or save and exit if we have to. it's not an ideal situation, but it's fair compromise as there are some games where we can't save at any point, where we'd have to sacrifice a cutsene to get to a point where we could save.

So for SkyGunner, the more difficult question is is the game worth being streamed from the cloud in the first place. i think it is. one reason is that it's a somewhat rare game that i hadn't heard of that came out somewhat early in the PS2 lifecycle. playing it via the cloud is easy and cheaper than trying to find your own copy of the game. i also enjoyed it's story. i was surprised that in Part 2 we got the story from a different perspective as i picked a different character in Part 2. it may take some time to get used to how it controls as it's not perfect, but i think there's enough here for some fun, even if you only play through the story from one character's perspective 

Cloud Monday - SkyGunner - Part 1 - A PS2 on PS4/PS5 Game Which Means You Can Save At Any Time

This week's Cloud Monday video is part 1 of playing SkyGunner on PS4 via the PlayStation Plus Cloud Streaming Service to my Japanese launch model PlayStation 4.

SkyGunner originally came out on PS2 back in 2001 so this is the PS4/PS5 emulated version of it that is available to download or stream. These emulated classics are great for streaming from the cloud because of the ability to save at any point by pressing the "Option" button on the controller. 

The big question is whether or not the games are worth playing. SkyGunner is a game that looks familiar but not one i really remember. that could be due to the animation studio behind the cutscenes doing the Final Fantasy: Unlimited anime. it's safe to say it's somewhat obscure so having it come out as a PS2 on PS4/PS5 game is good. but after my first hour with it, i didn't enjoy the gameplay that much. 

Cloud Monday - Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus - Pt2 - Let Down By Controls And Camera

This week's Cloud Monday video is part 2 of playing the PS2 version of Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus on PS4 via the PlayStation Plus Cloud Streaming Service to my Japanese launch model PlayStation 4.

In Part 1, https://youtu.be/tphGJ4lCw88, the charm of the game was very evident. it was also nice how each section we had to clear was nice and short and different from each other. that continued in this section with the boss also being different and unique but importantly only needing 4 hits to be defeated. The level design is mostly solid as well. the gameplay doesn't feel like a chore, nor does it feel like it's dragging on.

But it's really hampered by the controls and camera. the controls are just too sluggish. i don't think that this is a result of the game being streamed to me via PlayStation Plus either. I wonder if it's because PS2 games used a cable to connect to the console and had a different polling rate than Bluetooth controllers. basically, does the game check on what's being inputted fast enough. it's a frustrating experience pressing a button and often not seeing it happen on screen fast enough and then occasionally seeing it happen on time. it makes the jumping difficult. 

An example of this is the boss at the end of the video. for a while i couldn't jump up and down and press the button fast enough to start the next up jump before i was hit. the boss was moving faster than i could. so i had to try and start a little ahead of the boss so by the time he had caught up with me he got tired and i could hit him. i doubt this was the actual strategy, tho if it was please say so in the comments, and instead it's a result of the weird controller lag.

I'm not saying it's impossible for it to be caused from streaming the game. but i've played enough of these games to know that it's only ever been an issue in one other game. 

The camera was also another frustration. i felt like i was fighting it too often and it kept getting caught in the level. I had to make some jumps based on guess work. what really didn't help was that i couldn't change the camera to inverted. back in the day, it was a somewhat normal camera scheme, but nowadays inverted is the norm. 

Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus very much feels like the first game. it has great ideas and some not so great. what i'm curous about, and may check out in the next video, is whether the PS3 HD version of Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus controls any differently. if it does, would i prefer to have better controls and camera or the ability to save and rewind. i'm very curious to try the PlayStation 3 version.

Cloud Monday - Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus - Controls Take Time To Adjust To, Go Slow

This week's Cloud Monday video is part 1 of playing the PS2 version of Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus on PS4 via the PlayStation Plus Cloud Streaming Service to my Japanese launch model PlayStation 4.

PlayStation 2 games have recently come to the service as games you can download or stream from the cloud. so far, whilst the emulation software has been a good match-up for the service allowing us to save when ever we want, perfect for a service that only gives us a 20 second warning before disconnection, one of the main issues has been whether or not the gameplay is worth it.

Resistance: Retribution, https://youtu.be/jEs97ouESk8, was interesting as it's the only game i've played that had in-game tweaks to the analogue sticks. for G-Police, https://youtu.be/P9QIJwNAhGs, not being able to tweak them made the game near impossible to play. so i was very curious how a more recent title would handle.

There are two things i noticed right away, the camera and the jumping. both took time to adjust to. there were no in-game options to change how the camera works. but i've played games like this so it go easier. the jumping and character movement in general took a little more time. it felt like, and i tried to show in-game this, that there was a little lag between what i pressed on the controller and what happened in-game. 

This is such a rare thing with games being played from the cloud that i can't say for sure if it is a cloud streaming issue, or if it's an issue with the original PS2 game or an issue with the emulation software. it wasn't game breaking, but it did take me a few minutes before i was able to jump out of the initial starting area. it can't be denied that when i tried to test the lag, i could press the button and there was a short delay before Sly jumped.

There was only a second or two of video artefacts during this, so like many of the PS1 and PSP games emulated they seem to stream well as video. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus looks great upscaled to 1080p on PS4. the one thing i thought that didn't upscale as well was the audio. out of everything i played, it came across as the weakest part of this release.

Atlus Have Released A Trailer For Their PS2 Classic Game Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity

Atlus have released a trailer for their PS2 game Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity. this game has just been released on the USA PSN as a PS2 classic for the PS3. for $9.99, Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity is a tactical RPG that was originally released back in 2005. the game features great artwork, but it's difficulty is a little low.

Rockstar Announce Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories And Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stores Come To The PS3 This Week

Rockstar have announced the PS2 games Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories And Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stores are set to come out on the PS3 PSN this week. each game will cost $9.99 / €9.99 / £7.99 each. These are the PS2 versions of the highly rated PSP Games. These join other Rockstar PS2 classics on the store such as Midnight Club and Midnight Club II.

Press Release

USA PSN Charts, The Walking Dead Episode 4, Retro City Rampage, Grand Theft Auto 4, Final Fantasy VII Top

Sony have detailed the Top 20 PSN Games for the month of October in the USA.

Top 20 PSN and PS3 Full Games

1. The Walking Dead – Episode 4: Around Every Corner
2. Sonic Adventure 2
3. inFAMOUS Festival of Blood
4. NBA 2K13
5. Resident Evil 6
6. Dishonored
7. TOKYO JUNGLE
8. Assassin’s Creed III
9. Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
10. The Unfinished Swan
11. The Walking Dead – Episode 3: Long Road Ahead
12. DOOM 3 BFG Edition
13. The Walking Dead – Episode 1: A New Day
14. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
15. Retro City Rampage
16. Okami HD
17. Borderlands 2
18. FIFA Soccer 13
19. AMY
20. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD
    

 

Top 10 PS Vita Games

1. Retro City Rampage
2. Assassin’s Creed III Liberation
3. LittleBigPlanet PS Vita
4. Ragnarok Odyssey
5. New Little King’s Story
6. Plants vs. Zombies PS Vita
7. SunFlowers
8. Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack
9. STREET FIGHTER X TEKKEN
10. Need for Speed Most Wanted

Top 5 PS2 Classics

1. Grand Theft Auto 3
2. Odin Sphere
3. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
4. Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life Special Edition
5. Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Special Edition

Top 5 PS one Classics

1. FINAL FANTASY VII
2. Resident Evil 2
3. FINAL FANTASY IX
4. FINAL FANTASY VIII
5. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Source: USA Playstation Blog

More Charts

Double Fine Announce Psychonauts Comes To The USA PSN As A PS2 Classic On 28th August

Double Fine have announced Psychonauts is coming to the USA on PS3. on 28th August, the game will be released on the PSN as a PS2 Classic. No Price was revealed and no EU Release date was announced.

Source: USA Playstation Blog

Konami Announce PES 2013 Comes Out This Autumn, Release New Trailer And Detail New Features

Konami have announced PES 2013 is set to come out this Autumn on PS3, 360, PC, PS2, PSP, 3DS, and Wii. the game will feature connectivity to myPES, on Facebook, and improved audio, with it being more reactionary to events happening on the pitch.

Three key elements form the basis of PES 2013’s innovations, with all new additions falling within the fields of PES FullControl, Player ID, and ProActive AI.

PES FullControl (PES FC): Never before has a football game offered such a level of control over the way it is played:

• Total Freedom of Control: Pro Evolution Soccer  introduced the concept of freedom of movement, the new ‘PES FC’ in PES 2013 goes further with total freedom over ball control.

• Dynamic First Touch: PES 2013 introduces subtle ways to receive the ball, from traps, gently lifting it past an attacker to run on to or a variety of other moves. First touch is everything and players can trap the ball using the R2 button, killing the speed of a well-hit pass and bringing it instantly under control, or using the momentum of the pass to turn a defender.

• Full Manual Shooting and Full Manual Passing: PES 2013 offers fully manual passing and for the first time ever manual shooting, allowing users to determine the height and power of each. Long low passes can be sent skimming across the pitch, while shooting  the user has total control over where the shot is placed. Skill and precision are needed to master these, but passes can be made into open areas, allowing lone strikers to thrive, while offering an unrivalled variety in ways to score.

//MORE

• Dribbling: The speed with which a player moves with the ball has been slowed in line with real matches, but using R2 allows players to add various styles to their close control. Players can vary the speed of their dribbling, and cushion the ball as they move freely within a 360-degree circle. The new system allows players to knock a ball past a player and collect it, nutmeg them, or hold up play by shielding the ball as team mates find space and make runs.

• Full Manual One-Two: Active one-two passes can be made, with the second player being moved in any direction), facilitating various tactical movements.

• Response Defending: Countering the attacking options the new dribbling system offers, is a beautifully-balanced defence system. Players can use R2 and X to slow an attack, with a double-tap of the X button prompting a perfectly-timed challenge. Full 360-degree control means that players can check runs and steal the ball from a parallel position, while the individuality element will see world renowned defenders using aerial dominance of physicality to win the ball. 

• Goalkeepers: Even the game’s ‘keepers benefit from more control, while their distribution is more precise thanks to the addition of a power gauge when they throw the ball, creating opportunities for new, quicker counter attacks.

Player ID: Player ID focuses on the individual elements and movements that each player boasts:

• Player Individuality: The very best players in PES 2013 will be instantly recognisable via incredible likeness and signature attributes, skills and tricks that bring them to life. The way they run, turn, trap and move the ball, shape to shoot and even celebrate will be noticeably different during play..

• Individuality to Goalkeepers: The individuality of movement has also been extended to between the posts. Goal keeping has been totally invigorated via new animations and play styles. New varieties of saves and reactions have been added to ensure the game’s ‘keepers are in line with the efforts of real shot stoppers. This level of realism also extends to the game’s top-rated goal keepers, with their moves to close attacks down, fling themselves to tip a shot past the post, and in-goal acrobatics benefiting from all new animations and AI.

ProActive AI: ProActive AI unites the control and realism, with players that will respond and find space as befits those at the top of their game:

• Balance of Play: The development team has worked closely with the PES fan base to eradicate any illogical elements to the way players move and run in PES 2013, with the ‘ProActive AI’ system enhancing the speed and balance resulting in a more realistic game experience.

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• Tactical Precision: The balance of play has also been enhanced in the play between defences and the front line, with greater organisation as the teams track back or pelt forward, setting a harder to beat defensive line, teams adjusting faster to ball gain or loss, allowing for quicker counters.

• Enhanced Goalkeepers: Improvements to the goal keepers was voted the key advancement football fans wanted to see in PES 2013, and the team has worked hard with real keepers to ensure the AI decision process has been vastly improved. Keepers now espond with better reactions, clear their lines more effectively and push the ball savely out of play rather than into dangerous areas.

Press Release

Sony Announce Playstation 2 Games Are Out Now On The EU PS3 PSN

Sony have announced PS2 games are coming to the PS3 PSN from today. 27 PS2 titles were released today on the PSN, prices and game size do vary and i have included them. however, not all titles are available to all EU Countries. if you head to the link below, you can see if your country got a PS2 in today's PSN update. these games can only be played on the PS3.

A Train 6 - £7.99/€9.99 – 613MB

Arcade Classics Vol. 1 - £3.99/€4.99 – 208MB

Bust-A-Bloc - £3.99/€4.99 - 150MB

Cel Damage Overdrive  - £3.99/€4.99 – 395MB

Chicken Little - £7.99/€9.99 – 1.9GB

Disney Princess Enchanted Journey - £7.99/€9.99 – 4GB

God Hand - £7.99/€9.99 - 164MB

Golden Age of Racing - £3.99/€4.99 – 164MB

Gungrave Overdose - £3.99/€4.99 – 4.2GB

International Super Karts - £2.99/€3.59 – 104MB

Kim Possible: What’s the Switch? - £7.99/€9.99 – 1.7GB

Maximo  - £7.99/€9.99 – 2.2GB

Maximo vs Army of Zin - £7.99/€9.99 – 1.2GB

Meet the Robinsons - £7.99/€9.99 – 4.1GB

Mr. Golf - £5.49/€6.99 – 598MB

MX World Tour - £3.99/€4.99 – 509MB

Neo Contra - £7.99/€9.99 – 2.3GB

Noble Racing - £3.99/€4.99 – 209MB

Road Trip Adventure - £3.99/€4.99 – 611MB

Seek & Destroy - £3.99/€4.99 – 583MB

Skyscraper  - £1.99/€2.49 – 363MB

SSX On Tour - £7.99/€9.99 – 4.5GB

Swords of Destiny - £7.99/€9.99 – 4.4GB

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - £7.99/€9.99 – 3GB

Walt Disney’s Donald Duck Quack Attack - £7.99/€9.99 – 865MB

WWI: Aces of the Sky - £3.99/€4.99 – 215MB

WW2: Battle Over The Pacific - £3.99/€4.99 – 168MB

Source: EU Playstation Blog

Sony Announce The Playstation Family Sold Over 6.5M Over The Holiday Season, PSV Sells 500k

Sony have announced the PS2, PS3, PSP, And PS Vita sold over 6.5 Million Units worldwide during the holiday season. Sony are also reporting the PS Vita has sold 500,000 units in Japan since its launch on 17th December. Sony have provided individual Console Worldwide sales figures for the Holiday Season.

• Playstation Move sold 1.7 Million
• PS3 Sold Over 3.9 Million
• PS2 Sold Over 500,000 Units
• PSP Sold Over 1.6 Million
• PSV, as mentioned above, sold around 500,000 Units

Sony have also revealed there are over 70 titles currently in development for the Japanese Market.

Press Release

Sony Playstation GamesCom 2011 Live Blog Here

Here is a live blog of the Sony GamesCom press conference. if you prefer to watch you can either log into Playstation Home and watch it or you can head to the Playstation Blog.

Sony Have Released A Video Showing The History Of Augmented Reality And Playstation

Sony have released a new video showing the history of Augmented Reality on the Playstation 2, Playstation Portable, Playstation 3, and the upcoming NGP (PSP2). the video shows action and prototypes of several Augmented Reality Games, with a focus on the bigger successes on each platform. its revealed that using a camera on the PS2 happened nearly by accident, they were just seeing what would happen if you attached one to a PS2. they talk about how with more power they're able to use it in different ways, with the PS3 its Playstation Move and with the PSP2 its using Augmented Reality without cards. There is, through most of the video, a dig at Nintendo as Sony do say they did it first and they do Augmented Reality best.



Source: USA Playstation Blog

Sony Announce @AskPlayStation, A Twitter Based Customer Support Service

Sony have announced a new customer support service. Sony are using Twitter to help provide additional customer support via @AskPlayStation. @AskPlayStation will run from 9:30AM – 5:00PM PST Monday through Friday with real-time responses between 2PM – 5PM PST. Sony point out there are other services online were you can look for customer support, these include the Playstation knowledge Center and Playstation Community Forums.

Source: USA Playstation Blog

Sony Have Revealed Atlantis, A Level Cut From God Of War 2

Sony have revealed that there was originally an Atlantis level in God Of War 2 but it was cut. Sony have bought this up because God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta on the PSP actually has a Atlantis level. Sony have released some concept art and initial level design notes for the Atlantis level as well as a developer interview with the levels designer Jonathan Hawkins.



Concept Art


Initial Level Design


From USA Playstation Blog

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Reveal Cheat Codes For Scooby Doo! And The Spooky Swamp

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have released some cheat codes for their PS2, Wii, And DS game Scooby Doo! And The Spooky Swamp.

Halloween Cheat Code
9991 DoubleDamage

Whacky Cheat Codes
2654 BigHead
3293 ChipmunkTalk
1954 SlowMo

New Screenshots


Press Release

The wind is whistling through the trees, families are carving frightening faces into pumpkins and things are going bump in the night – it must be Hallowe’en time!  Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp, now available on the Wii, Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2,  is the perfect family-friendly video game for this time of year. 

To help you capture double the ghouls and goblins during your bone-chilling adventures in the game,  we’re sharing the following Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp cheat codes:

Halloween Cheat Code
9991 DoubleDamage

For an additional trick or treat, we’ve also included some whacky cheat codes to alter the look and feel of characters in the game:

Whacky Cheat Codes
2654 BigHead
3293 ChipmunkTalk
1954 SlowMo

Sony Reveal A New PS2 Toy Story 3 Bundle Is Coming 31st October For $99

Sony have announced a new PS2 bundle is coming on the 31st October. For $99, you can get a PS2 and Toy Story 3: The Videogame.

From USA Playstation Blog

D3Publisher Have Revealed The Boxart For Despicable Me: The Game

D3Publisher have revealed the boxart for the upcoming Despicable Me video game tie-in, Despicable Me: The Video game. The Nintendo DS version of the game is called Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem and is rated 3, whilst the PS2, PSP, and Wii versions are rated 12.

Boxart

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Have Released A New Scooby-Doo! And The Spooky Swamp Gameplay Trailer

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have released a new gameplay video for Scooby-Doo! And The Spooky Swamp. This video shows many of the gadgets in the game, from magnifying glass to help sleuthing, Velma fixing machines, and machines that require two characters to operate them.

Sony Announce Ico And Shadow Of The Colossus Collection For The Playstation 3

Sony have announced that Ico And Shadow Of The Colossus Collection for the Playstation 3. both games will run at 30fps in HD with an optional 3D mode. Its reported that this collection is coming out in Spring 2011. Sony have released a trailer, best seen in HD, and new screenshots from both games from the collection.



Ico Screenshots


Shadow of The Colossus Screenshots


From USA Playstation Blog
Release Date From Eurogamer