General gaming discussion

Cordell · 22-04-2026 03:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124413994#Comment_124413994

The game was brilliant at launch, the updates made it even better. Certainly it was no 6/10. See, subjective opinion. A game that took a year or more to get better was Cyberpunk 2077, which was unplayable at launch but was rated 9/10 by the same bunch.

The value of these reviews? For me, that's a 0/10

Retr0gamer · 22-04-2026 04:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414022#Comment_124414022

Games can be flawed and fun. One of the other users here that likes the game has acknowledged the flaws with the game. A reviewer wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't point out said flaws and marked it accordingly.

Also there's no great conspiracy with reviewers trying to tank a companies stock price no matter what some online will think.

Cutting off all critical analysis isn't healthy.

Penn · 22-04-2026 04:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414022#Comment_124414022

IGN gave the console versions of Cyberpunk2077 a 4/10 due to those performance issues. Their main review was based off the PC version which wasn't as bad. Their review noted the numerous issues and bugs they encountered, noted that it didn't ruin their enjoyment of the game, and gave a warning regarding the console versions, while also detailing how CDPR have a good reputation for patching and updating their games to address such issues and that they expect the game to be patched to address those issues.

The reviews are more than their final scores.

Cordell · 22-04-2026 04:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414036#Comment_124414036

I just don't value their paid opinion, same goes for film and music critics. If they do for a job what I consume for fun and entertaining then there is a disconnect and I'm not interested anymore. I worked in the gamedev industry, I know how it's like to work on games I would never play myself.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414050#Comment_124414050

On PC Cyberpunk was bad like T-posing butt naked while riding the bike bad, that's not a 9/10 just as Crimson Desert is not a 6/10. CDPR did a bait and switch and too many of them have fallen for it.

Retr0gamer · 22-04-2026 04:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414064#Comment_124414064

I worked as a game reviewer for a while and can tell you the money (which is shite) doesn't factor into it at all unless you think they are somehow paid to give certain games certain reviews?

johnny_ultimate · 22-04-2026 04:46PM

I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again: professional critics often have much less skin in the game than the general public when it comes to individual games. You often see far more defensiveness among ‘the gamers’ who are determined to defend the honour of games they’ve bought or gang up against a particular target for all manner of reasons, regardless of quality. It’s why I deeply distrust user reviews, as they’re much more prone to mob mentality and manipulation.

The ‘influencer’ set can be a different story entirely, mind you - there is a very real ‘will give good coverage for press junket invite or review code’ group out there, but I don’t think that’s what we’re talking about on this case.

Cordell · 22-04-2026 05:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414087#Comment_124414087

No, that was not what I implied at all. It's just the fact they review for a job what I play for fun, which inherently creates a disconnect. That being said, and since you mentioned it, there is also the bad faith angle, which I didn't really touch on this time, but I won't pretend it doesn't exist either.

@johnny_ultimate professional critics have a lot of skin in the game when the reviews are literally putting food on the table.

McFly85 · 22-04-2026 05:05PM

It’s sort of crazy to see how the perception of reviews have changed over time, especially in games. It’s less about “will I enjoy this”, and more about validating hype. Context is lost completely, the only thing that matters is the number on metacritic. Reviewers that give anything less than an 8 are considered suspicious, as if they have an agenda instead of simply not enjoying the game enough to warrant the score. It’s all very ridiculous.

I’ve said before, just find some sites or reviewers you trust if you have any doubt about handing over your cash. If a publication/reviewer gives a low score to a game you love then stop reading them - plenty of other people who have different tastes could find them invaluable though.

johnny_ultimate · 22-04-2026 05:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414168#Comment_124414168

Games journalism is not a majorly lucrative gig, so the majority of people in the field need to have genuine passion and enthusiasm as they could sure as hell be making more money elsewhere. If anything, they’ll be punished and criticised if their work is seen as anything other than engaging and honest (though let’s be honest: the **** way the internet is they’ll be criticised regardless). Indeed, given the shift to personality based independent platforms, the need to be authentic and passionate has only increased if journalists want to build a sustainable platform not reliant on a corporation’s whims.

A lot of brilliant people are paid to work in fields they clearly love - I’m not brilliant but I do work in a field I love, though absolutely not gaming lol - so it certainly doesn’t invalidate their critical perspective for me.

EoinMcLovin · 22-04-2026 05:54PM

Looks good

https://youtu.be/ShUy3fxUOzY?is=XUZX714AtQwer1Zm

Anois_ · 22-04-2026 06:33PM

Game journalists are a bit like those girls with one leg shorter than the other.

I actually went out with this chick who had one leg shorter than the other her name was Eileen.

CatInABox · 22-04-2026 08:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414333#Comment_124414333

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but huh, that's very much the hitman engine, and lots of the stealth gameplay looks like it's directly copied from Hitman.

Not a bad thing, in fairness, but how good the game is will come down to how good they've made combat. Hitman is purposefully terrible at that.

Zero-Cool · 22-04-2026 09:13PM

Grounded is so class. I thought the cartoony graphics might be a negative but it just fits really well. Such a bang if nostalgia of honey i shrunk the kids and instantly hooked me in as soon as i started playing. Definitely gonna sink some time into this.

It's currently 20 quid in psn, going back to 40 tonight.

The Iron Giant · 22-04-2026 11:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414333#Comment_124414333

Really excited for this!

Zero-Cool · 23-04-2026 08:31AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414333#Comment_124414333

Right, I had zero interest in this but that trailer has turned it around. I thought it would lean into the Uncharted side of things but looks like a nice mix of Hitman infiltration. Actually has me wanting to get back to Hitman 2 for a spin.

Penn · 23-04-2026 08:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124415354#Comment_124415354

Yeah if anything it makes me want to check out Hitman again. The infiltration stuff looks great, the combat looks like it might be alright but I'd still be aiming for as much stealth/infiltration as possible.

But then at that stage, Hitman is what's calling to me because that game is pure stealth/infiltration.

I'm probably more willing to give 007 First Light a chance based on this latest trailer, but I'd still be a bit wary. If they can nail the balance between stealth & combat and if there's a decent amount of choice, I'm in.

Mr Crispy · 23-04-2026 09:56AM

To echo others, the combat will have to be fun (ditto the vehicles), but it looks promising. I'm assuming it won't have the same convoluted edition problems Hitman had?

Penn · 23-04-2026 10:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124415531#Comment_124415531

Unlikely. Hitman 3 was essentially turned into a general Hitman Hub for Hitman 1-3, and all those games had their own DLCs etc which made working out what was and wasn't included a nightmare if you owned previous games, some of the DLC etc.

This game at the very least is a clean slate, so while they're very clear about how there'll be a lot of DLC coming (which will probably be similar to Hitman DLC with new levels or challenges), it should be simple enough. There doesn't even seem to be different editions of the game being released. One collectors edition with some DLC skins and outfits, but just regular edition other than that.

EoinMcLovin · 23-04-2026 11:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124415531#Comment_124415531

On PlayStation Store there is just the standard edition but if you preorder if you upgraded the deluxe edition for free which includes 24 hour early access

Pre-order 007 First Light and receive the Deluxe Edition Upgrade and 24 hour early access at no additional cost:
4 outfits:
• Day of the Dead
• Desert Explorer
• Silent Anchor
• Gentleman Operator
Weapon skin:
• Agent’s Mark
Gleaming Pack, including 4 gadget skins:
• Gleaming Lighter
• Gleaming Earphones
• Gleaming Dart Gun
• Gleaming Pen

Zero-Cool · 23-04-2026 11:13AM

I just tried to look up how to get world of assassination as i already own hitman 1 and 2 but would love to get that online mode and enjoyable targets like the current bruce lee one but it's so convoluted. At the moment, looks like i just have to buy the full WoA edition for 70 (was on sale for 27 yesterday but looks like it regularly goes back to 27).

Penn · 23-04-2026 11:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124415709#Comment_124415709

Yeah that's the additional stuff I saw with the Collectors Edition (also some physical tat with it too like a mask and an artbook or something).

The Iron Giant · 23-04-2026 11:31AM

I picked up Hitman WOA again the other day after years of not playing it and just found it so much fun again from the get-go. Sat down to spend a half an hour or so with it and finally put it down three or four hours later.

It's still so much fun finding different ways to approach everything and so satisfying to engineer slick methods to take out targets through deception. Played one of the strangely released DLCs that came out for Hitman 2 whilst Hitman 3 was out and was able to set it up that one of my targets took the other target out after a disagreement whilst I watched on from afar.

Of all the developers out there, I'm so happy that IO have the Bond license, it's going to be great.

Potential-Monke · 23-04-2026 01:41PM

Probably just me but I no longer like stealth sections, boring slow sections where you're totally not obviously walking behind a waist high thing or through grass that isn't high enough, just meters from the deaf blind bad guys. From that trailer, this is no different. So even though I want it to be excellent to counter Samsons -13 in the league, I don't see myself picking this up at any point. Not a fan of the Hitman games and this is basically Hitman 007 with added Uncharted style set pieces.

Zero-Cool · 23-04-2026 03:05PM

I'm a sucker for Daddy daughter games so looked up Pragmata which i hadn't done before and looks class, damn, another game added to the list.

EoinMcLovin · 23-04-2026 03:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124416396#Comment_124416396

Great game so far, some of the training rooms you unlock are pretty tough

Zero-Cool · 25-04-2026 12:54AM

I'm playing hitman 2 at the moment and finding it such a struggle difficulty wise. I'm enjoying it but the levels and missions are so complex, is a bit overwhelming. I played the free bruce lee event and loved the sound of it but while I'm clumsily wandering around the level, i get notification that something happened Bruce and i need to hurry. Sent me into a bit of panic and made a balls of it. It was fun but you really need to replay it multiple times to figure out a strategy. I was thinking man, I'd like a stripped back more straightforward version and that's what the new Bond game looks like.

Zero-Cool · 25-04-2026 01:47AM

Squirrel with a gun is bad... Like really bad. Fire someone that focuses on spring a gun, the shooting is atrocious, deleted.

Crew motorfest is actually really good arcade racer but like so many open world racers, is ruined by having to drive around the map to start the next race. Great if you want to explore but i just want to get straight to the next race, just remake NFS Underground already and get rid of these gigantic maps.

Zero-Cool · 25-04-2026 07:48PM

Man, Drive Club was absolutely incredible, way better than Gran Turismo.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2048061874793492843

MikeRyan87 · 25-04-2026 09:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124421805#Comment_124421805

Absolutely loved Driveclub even though its launch was a mess. Pity Evolution weren't given one more game after it. Loved the MotorStorm games as well although after playing Apocalypse recently, they havent aged that well.

johnny_ultimate · 26-04-2026 01:35PM

Absolutely hooked on Titanium Court. A wonderfully funny, absurdist satire on many elements of modern game design, while crucially being a damn addictive game in its own right. A game that rewards indulging your curiosity, with all kinds of odd, bizarre consequences for taking alternate options. The demo gives you a good taste, but it absolutely goes deeper and weirder as the game progresses.

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