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Metro
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
I bought GTA 5 for the third time and it's still one of the best games ever
A reader reveals how the wait for GTA 6 led him to buy GTA 5 for the PS5, as he insists the 12-year-old game is still the best entry in the series so far. I love Grand Theft Auto. I'm in my fifties now and I don't often play video games anymore. If I have any spare time, I prefer to watch decent films or well scripted television series, like Succession. Video games require effort and physical interaction and I'm not really up for that after a week at work. Up until this year, due to my overall gaming lapse, I'd resisted upgrading to the current generation of consoles, but I've now purchased a PlayStation 5 for one reason alone. I have to play Grand Theft Auto 6. It's like an overpowering urge akin to when you're ravenous and you see a big tasty-looking cake. You want that cake. There's no debate in your head. That cake must find its way into your mouth. That's how I feel about Grand Theft Auto 6. When the new Grand Theft Auto game was delayed until next year I was utterly heartbroken, especially since I bought a new console for the sole purpose of playing it. The current instalment in the franchise, Grand Theft Auto 5, is relatively cheap at the moment (about 15 quid) and the old/current game began to look quite appealing to me as a stopgap until I could play the new game, but I held back from buying GTA 5 because I already own two copies on other formats. How could I possibly justify buying and playing Grand Theft Auto 5 again? Years ago, I bought and played GTA 5 extensively on the PlayStation 3. I purchased the game a second time on the Xbox One. In that enhanced version of the game there were notable improvements. Mainly, I'm thinking about first person view being an option in every vehicle. Grand Theft Auto 5 on PlayStation 5 seemed so unnecessary to me. Apparently the PlayStation 5 version wasn't much of an improvement, and wouldn't it be better and more adventurous to branch out and play something else? But then, as I've mentioned above, GTA 6 got delayed and I needed to satisfy my hunger for the franchise, and so I found myself buying the same game a third time. After this purchase I rather regretted surrendering to my urges, that is until I installed Grand Theft Auto 5 and actually started playing it. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. From my hands-on experience of the PlayStation 5 version, I have to say that Grand Theft Auto 5 is still a right laugh and in many respects I think it might be the best entry in the series. The missions in 5 are a major improvement on the previous games, in that they're fun and often spectacular. All too often in the other games, some of the missions regressed into becoming a major chore. That remote control helicopter mission in the multi-story carpark in Vice City sticks in my head as a serious blight in an otherwise enjoyable experience. Grand Theft Auto 5 is far more accommodating. If you keep failing the game offers you a chance to skip a mission, which is probably sacrilege to hardcore gamers but I think a bit of all-abilities inclusion is an excellent idea. I'm still barely into my latest playthrough and already rescuing Michael's son from his hijacked boat was/is so cool. You're chasing down a stolen yacht that's being towed in a trailer. Franklin jumps onto the yacht while it's in motion and you have to then catch him and Michael's dangling son. Brilliant stuff. I can't immediately remember missions with that kind of scope in the earlier games. I also love the random incidents that occur throughout the map while you play. After you've darted over to intervene in a theft, in true Grand Theft Auto style you can either give the money back to its rightful owner or keep it for yourself. The Strangers and Freaks side missions are a great addition too. Grand Theft Auto 5 offers a multitude of tempting distractions, other than simply running amok until the police take you down, which although fun can become a rather aimless and morally troubling activity. On this latest playthrough of GTA 5 I've only noticed a couple of downsides. I've been forced to remember how much I hated Franklin's mate Lamar. Just a horrible, moaning character with dialogue that's littered with offensive expletives. I punched Lamar and ran him over and that provided marginal relief but, yes, I still hate him. And the character models in general look a bit crusty and old, which is perfectly understandable given the age of the game itself. And if I'm honest the only improvement in the PlayStation 5 version is that the game loads slightly faster and maybe the environments look marginally better… so was it worth buying the game yet again? More Trending I have to say yes. Playing Grand Theft Auto 5 is still a joy and I'd recommend readers giving the game another go given its cheap price. In my opinion, no other game offers such a multifaceted and amusingly detailed experience. Listening to Cara Delevingne on Non-Stop-Pop FM. Stealing a flashy sports car and then gunning it for miles across the brilliantly realised map. Grand Theft Auto 5 really is the gift that keeps on giving, that is until Grand Theft Auto 6 finally comes out. By reader Michael Veal (@msv858) The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: We have to accept the Nintendo Switch 2 is not for hardcore gamers - Reader's Feature MORE: The 90s and 2000s were the best time for video game creativity – Reader's Feature MORE: I'm going to say it: Mario Kart World is not as good as it should be – Reader's Feature
Metro
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
We have to accept the Nintendo Switch 2 is not for hardcore gamers
A reader examines the pros and cons of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch and argues the 2025 line-up is perfect for casual gamers, even if other fans are disappointed. I think a lot of people are starting to realise that the Nintendo Switch 2 launch has been a bit of a let-down. Only one good game and no clue as to what is happening with most of the big franchises. Literally no clue, because how do you follow up the Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? The formula has already been perfected, so either you reinvent it again or… you do what Nintendo is doing with this year's line-up. I know some fans are holding out for a secret big Christmas game, but I would bet anything there's not going to be one. The games scheduled for this year may look minor and uninteresting to long-time Nintendo fans but I think the truth is they've been very carefully and cleverly chosen. Hardcore fans might be upset at the Switch 2 at the moment, but Nintendo isn't, not with it being the fastest selling console ever, and ordinary people aren't going to be either. Whatever problems you and I might have with Mario Kart World (I'm assuming anyone reading this is at least a relatively hardcore gamer) ordinary people don't see a problem at all. I think that Nintendo might have learned a little to well from Sony and the PlayStation 5. What is the big take away for this generation, from Sony's point of view? That the less you do and say the more you get rewarded. Sony has no competition from Xbox now, so the PlayStation 5 is really the only console to buy. They don't have to do anything to earn people's support, except make less of a mess of things than Xbox, which is not difficult. Nintendo hasn't had any direct competition since the Switch started. If it wasn't for the Wii U you could say they've been untouchable since the Wii in 2006. Nintendo has a captive audience, that likes their stuff and most people are, for good reasons, very happy with how the Switch 1 turned out. So, I really don't see any eventuality where the Switch 2 isn't a massive success or, I should say, doesn't continue to be a massive success. The Switch 2 could probably go its whole generation just being the Mario Kart machine, which the Switch 1 pretty much did. Obviously, there will be other games, they've got Donkey Kong in just a few weeks, but Mario Kart and whatever Mario game they release to tie into the new movie next year is going to keep Nintendo execs in unicorn pâté for a long time to come. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. What I'm saying, is that we need to calm down a bit with wild expectations and then getting upset because those, completely made-up, expectations don't come true. Nintendo's in no hurry with any of this. They don't want to cannibalise sales of the games they've got out this year, which include a Donkey Kong game (that seems close to being a 3D Mario), a Zelda game, a Pokémon game, a Kirby game, and a new Metroid Prime. The Zelda and Pokémon ones are spin-offs, that might not be that great, and I'm not sure anyone cares about Kirby, but on top of that you've got new content for Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby And The Forgotten Land this year. That really is all the big hitters, in some form or another, and while hardcore gamers can pick problems with all of them (even Metroid Prime 4, in the sense that it's still basically a Switch 1 game) that is not going to matter to casual gamers. Your average parent looking to see whether the Switch 2 is worth getting their kids for Christmas is going to see it has all these major franchises represented right from the start and they're going to think it's a worthwhile investment. They're not going to complain about the screen not being OLED or whether Game-Key Cards are a good idea, they're going to care that it has all the games their kids like and, despite what they've heard, none of them are £80. More Trending It may not seem that way to the likes of you and me, but I'm afraid to say the Nintendo Switch 2 launch was almost perfect, even if I'm not all that happy with it myself. By reader Gunther The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: The 90s and 2000s were the best time for video game creativity – Reader's Feature MORE: I'm going to say it: Mario Kart World is not as good as it should be – Reader's Feature MORE: As a former Xbox 360 owner I don't understand Xbox today - Reader's Feature
USA Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
EA Sports College Football 26 reveals best teams: Where do Alabama Crimson Tide rank?
Here's one you may not have seen coming. The Alabama Crimson Tide will be the best team to play with when EA Sports' College Football 26 is released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S gaming consoles in July. The video game franchise, now in its second year after its extremely successful relaunch last summer, unveiled its individual team ratings on Friday as more details about this year's game trickle in closer to its release date. Alabama topped the list at No. 1. The Crimson Tide's 89 overall rating edged the Texas Longhorns at No. 2, defending national champion Ohio State at No. 3, Penn State at No. 4, and Notre Dame at No. 5. The four schools behind Alabama -- plus Nos. 6-8 Georgia, Clemson, and Texas A&M -- all have an 88 overall rating. Alabama has the top overall defense in College Football 26 with a 96 rating, while its offense is No. 7 overall with an 89 rating. Last year's rankings saw Georgia as the top team to play with in College Football 25, while Alabama was ranked No. 4. The Crimson Tide also had the No. 4 overall defense with Ohio State at No. 1. Alabama's offense was ranked No. 3 behind Georgia at No. 1 and Oregon at No. 2. Here's a full look at the top 25 overall teams and offensive/defensive units in College Football 26. EA Sports' College Football 26 overall team ratings EA Sports College Football 26 best offenses EA Sports College Football 26 best defense Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: Norman Reedus tries new weapons, vehicles in 'Death Stranding 2'
June 26 (UPI) -- Norman Reedus gears up to deliver packages in a post-apocalyptic world in the final trailer for video game sequel Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Reedus returns as series protagonist Sam Porter Bridges, who is caring for growing baby Lou before an alarm springs him into action in the clip released Thursday. The trailer highlights the collection of weapons and vehicles players can use in the game to deliver packages across dangerous terrains. Players will have access to a missile launcher with homing missiles and a sniper rifle that uses tranquilizer ammo. For vehicles, players can ride a variety of motorcycles and cars, along with a railway that can deliver huge containers. The game's cast also includes Lea Seydoux as Fragile, Elle Fanning as Tomorrow, Margaret Qualley as Mama and Troy Baker as Higgs. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach hails from acclaimed video game creator Hideo Kojima and his team at Kojima Productions. The newly released sequel is available now on PlayStation 5.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Nintendo Stock (NTDOF) Rises on Death Stranding 2 Contribution
Nintendo (NTDOF) stock rallied on Wednesday after it was revealed the video game company played a part in the development of Kojima Productions' Death Stranding 2: On the Beach a game exclusive to Sony's (SONY) PlayStation 5. Specifically, subsidiary Nintendo Pictures aided Kojima Productions with the motion capture process for the game, which will hit shelves tomorrow. Confident Investing Starts Here: While it might be surprising to see Nintendo work alongside Kojima Productions on Death Stranding 2, this isn't the first time that Nintendo Pictures has helped out the developer. It also worked alongside Kojima Productions on the first Death Stranding. That's despite neither of the Death Stranding games being released for Nintendo consoles. To be fair, Dynamo Pictures wasn't a Nintendo subsidiary when it worked on the first Death Stranding. It was acquired by Nintendo in 2022 and quickly renamed to Nintendo Pictures. At that time, the subsidiary said it was dedicated to 'producing visual content for Nintendo IP.' However, Nintendo doesn't seem to mind it working with other developers. Nintendo Stock Movement Today Nintendo stock was up 2.92% as of Wednesday morning, building on a year-to-date rally of 57.93%. The shares have also risen 63.7% over the past 12 months. Today's gain came alongside increasing trading activity, with 12,680 shares traded, compared to a three-month daily average of 5,710 units. Investors may be excited about the prospect of Nintendo letting its subsidiaries work with other studios. It has a large collection of developers under its belt with decades of game-making experience. This type of work could also act as an extra source of revenue for Nintendo. Some might also see this as a sign that the Death Stranding games could come to the Switch 2. Is Nintendo Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold? Turning to Wall Street, the analysts' consensus rating for Nintendo is Moderate Buy, based on seven Buy, two Hold, and a single Sell rating over the past three months. With that comes an average NTDOF stock price target of $91.77, representing a potential 0.21% downside for the shares.
