General gaming discussion

Retr0gamer · 25-02-2026 11:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124263920#Comment_124263920

I've had one interaction with Sony trying to get a refund and in fairness were great to deal with. I bought the metal slug collection from PSN but it was a PS2 game so the emulation was awful. To make matters worse it was the European version so it played in 50 Hz so was slow and had frame skipping. I only played to 10 minutes but they gave a full refund.

The motion sickness thing definitely isn't rare. A lot of games have ways to combat it. Head Bob can be nauseating for people so most people turn it off. Also adding a permanent cursor to the middle of the screen you can focus on can help.

Unearthly · 25-02-2026 11:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124263920#Comment_124263920

I avoid first person games mostly and can’t go anywhere near VR (although that technology looks like it’s flopping). Such a shame but plenty of great third person games for me

Zero-Cool · 25-02-2026 11:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124263936#Comment_124263936

I've played plenty of head bobbing games but KCD 2 definitely hits different. It's incredibly interesting but turns out a bit too much for me. Pc has mods to remove it but none on PlayStation. Thank Jeebus other games don't affect me anyway. I really was expecting to say no chance on refund but having worked on phone support before, is always work talking to someone, nothing to lose other than wait time.

johnny_ultimate · 25-02-2026 01:28PM

In the final few stages of Ninja Gaiden Ragebound and sadly still think it's pretty so-so. Other than the previously discussed charge attack gimmick two big things drag it down for me.

First is level design. Honestly most of the levels are pretty insipid IMO. There's just not much of interest going on in them. It also gets a little confused about how it handles pits and vertical spaces. Some levels allow you to freely explore pits as they're multi-storey affairs, whereas others they're just an insta-kill death trap. Similarly other levels are vertically designed, and others just stop when you try to climb higher, even if it looks like there could be a secret or something up there. I don't think the more puzzle-platforming sections involving the second character are interesting enough to provide the variety the game needs.

Second is the bosses. These are pretty old-school pattern learning affairs, but I feel the designers have misjudged the amount of damage they can take (giving them a spongey feel), while some of the attack patterns are more annoying than satisfying to dodge or jump over. Honestly, my expectations for 2D boss design has shot up after the double whammy of Nine Sols and Silksong, both of which feature some of the very best and most engaging 2D boss battles ever made, and sadly Ragebound just can't compete with them in that regard.

I'll finish it as I'm only 3 or 4 levels from the end now, but it's definitely a bit of a disappointment, and I personally enjoyed Ninja Gaiden 4 quite a bit more (even though that's also a very flawed game). Looking forward to getting back to Shinobi once I've finished it (I only stopped playing that because Silksong rudely interrupted).

Retr0gamer · 25-02-2026 04:57PM

Resident evil 9 reviews coming in.

Looking good:

https://www.eurogamer.net/resident-evil-requiem-review

McFly85 · 25-02-2026 05:23PM

Yep, sounds great. It does seem to be the third game in a row that starts very strongly with classic survival horror with a weaker back half as action takes over, but this time they’ve implemented the balance between both styles much better. Really looking forward to it(although it may have to wait as I impulsively picked up a switch 2 this week!)

johnny_ultimate · 25-02-2026 05:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124264826#Comment_124264826

TBH I think this is a flaw with the series generally - almost always a weaker second half. Even RE4, which I think controls the pacing a bit better than some of the others.

Both 7 and 8 definitely suffered from it big time though.

Azza · 25-02-2026 05:38PM

Think part of the problem is horror and tension are very hard to sustain for more than few hours. You just build up an immunity too it.

johnny_ultimate · 25-02-2026 05:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124264868#Comment_124264868

Funny enough I’m playing Silent Hill f at the moment, and near the end it’s actually gotten creepier and darker as it has progressed.

That said, Silent Hill is dark psychological horror, whereas Resi is operating in a somewhat cheesier b-movie register for the most part, so not directly comparable.

Retr0gamer · 25-02-2026 05:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124264868#Comment_124264868

I think it more the combat options open up more to the player and you get used to the enemies. Hard to be scared of enemies when you are armed to the gills.

The regenerators in resi 4 being a small exception.

Retr0gamer · 25-02-2026 06:03PM

Word of warning, the resource hogging DRM in resi 4 is in this game on PC.

Moronic executives need to realize they are going to cause more piracy by giving their pay customers a worse experience than the pirates.

Jordan 199 · 25-02-2026 06:11PM

Do any of you know who this is?

Cordell · 25-02-2026 06:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124264928#Comment_124264928

I'm constantly mind boggled on why they keep using DRMs beyond distribution platforms to this day, when PC gaming is 100% distributed digitally. It made sense to copy protect DVDs and add DRM to games 20 years ago, but not today, not anymore. It's not only hurting customers, it's also an added cost - maybe someone needs to say that to the beancounters in charge.

EoinMcLovin · 25-02-2026 07:13PM

New trailer for mortal kombat 2

https://youtu.be/b24oG7qCwp4?is=Adx1BJHnZnwHwIDu

Anois_ · 25-02-2026 07:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124264953#Comment_124264953

Catalina from GTAIII?

recyclops · 25-02-2026 07:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124264880#Comment_124264880

Felt this was a great game all the way through.

Jordan 199 · 25-02-2026 07:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124265181#Comment_124265181

Yes indeed. She's a psycho!

Anois_ · 25-02-2026 07:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124265202#Comment_124265202

Reminds me of the first girlfriend you get in San Andreas. Let's do a drive by she keeps saying.

Retr0gamer · 25-02-2026 08:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124264972#Comment_124264972

These are the same beancounters that wouldn't let digital eclipse use emulation for their megaman collections because they though emulation meant stealing games. So digital eclipse had to reverse engineer them in C from their decompiled machine language.

The money men are always morons.

Penn · 25-02-2026 08:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124265221#Comment_124265221

Can't remember if she's the first girlfriend in San Andreas, but Catalina is in SA. You do a few robbery missions or something with her before she dumps you for Claude Speed (the protagonist of GTA3) and they go off together.

Zero-Cool · 25-02-2026 10:00PM

So, Polygon has likened Leon to the survivors of Hiroshima bombing. Jesus Christ.

"They are both reminders of the evil mankind is capable of and living proof that, against all odds, good people can still hope to push on in the face of it.

In his own world, Leon S. Kennedy is a survivor too. One of the two heroes at the center of Resident Evil Requiem,..."

https://twitter.com/i/status/2026710978000462304

Cordell · 26-02-2026 11:29AM

And Kotaku did this: https://kotaku.com/leon-kennedy-resident-evil-requiem-hot-thirst-trap-2000673666

That's the state of gaming journalism today. Can't be disappointed when you already have low expectations.

WarZoneBrother · 26-02-2026 11:50AM

Resident Evil Requiem hasn't been in stock on Smyths last 2 days for Delivery… Usually when I see that the day before more stock gets added online… Nothing appears to be added today was hoping for next day delivery as no Smyths near me locally / game stores… Anyone reckon stock will go back online before 3pm today? Standard, Lenticular and Deluxe edition all gone, wanting to purchase either + the Elite Headset possibly..

chalkitdown1 · 26-02-2026 01:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124266408#Comment_124266408

Kinda related, but I was 100% sure I pre-ordered the lenticular PS5 version from Smyth's last Sunday. Just checked now and there's no sign of it in my order history on Smyth's website, no money taken from my bank account.

I'm also positive that I'm not going crazy, I definitely pre-ordered it so I dunno WTF is going on.😐️

Are Smyth's in the business of cancelling pre-orders and refunding you if they don't get enough stock?

Andrew76 · 26-02-2026 01:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124266652#Comment_124266652

You should’ve got a pre-order confirmation email from them?

xtal191 · 26-02-2026 01:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124266408#Comment_124266408

They're showing in stock for delivery for me. Is Smyths next day delivery?

chalkitdown1 · 26-02-2026 01:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124266687#Comment_124266687

Nope. Honestly, I just completely forgot about it until I read about the stock shortages this morning. Maybe I AM going crazy, but I even texted a friend on Sunday saying I just pre-ordered it and booked Friday off work. 😅 Maybe the pre-order didn't complete or something, I dunno.

Anyway, as per the post above, it's back in stock available to buy now (for delivery only), so I just got it again. I hope I don't recieve 2 copies.

johnny_ultimate · 26-02-2026 03:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124266408#Comment_124266408

It does appear to be in stock now, but IIRC they often close off pre-orders for a day or so before release. It'll then be available again on release day for order or pick-up.

Retr0gamer · 26-02-2026 03:30PM

A friend is saying that there's interviews with Bluepoint guys, would want some sources first.

Apparently they were dropped as Sony decided they don't need remakes anymore.

Also they pitched Bloodborne remake to Sony but Miyazaki expressed that he really didn't like what Bluepoint did to Demon's Souls and it's what got that project shot down. In fairness, they took a lot of liberties with Demons Souls and not good ones, it was a real butchering.

Penn · 26-02-2026 03:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124267128#Comment_124267128

I wouldn't have had the same concerns regarding Bluepoint doing work to Bloodborne. It's a much more modern game that wouldn't have required any QoL improvements, and so Bluepoint could have just done a remaster to improve resolution & performance (given that Bloodborne only hits 30fps about as much the player hits Micolash as he's running through the hallways) rather than Bluepoint remaking the game from the ground up like with Demons Souls.

Improve resolution & framerate, release it on PS5 & PC, include The Old Hunters DLC, give Miyazaki/FromSoft final approval rights if there's something they want Bluepoint to change. Bam! Easy money.

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