September had many games for the kid and the warrior in us all. What did you enjoy most about last month’s title lineup? 

How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. 

What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.

On October 31, Starship Troopers: Continuum will be released on PS VR2. This multiplayer co-op shooting game is the first to recreate Starship Troopers in virtual reality. This blog will explain what the game’s name actually means. But first, please welcome a very special guest! The face of FedNet, hero of Klendathu, General Johnny Rico!

A word from Casper Van Dien

“I guess I’m the closest thing Starship Troopers has for a hero. My character, Johnny Rico, has been with me for nearly 30 years. He spends most of the first movie surrounded by death. He’s responsible for a death in training. He’s mistakenly K.I.A on Klendathu. He’s promoted when Troopers die around him, falling upwards through the ranks. 

‘A citizen accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the body politic, defending it with his life; a civilian does not.’

In the end, Rico’s changed. He takes that quote to heart and becomes willing – even keen – to die for the cause. He becomes harder, stronger, more pragmatic… but at what cost? 

In Starship Troopers: Continuum, Rico’s a figurehead for FedNet’s ‘Klendathu 25’ celebration. I’m helping recruit new meat for the grinder, and you’re the meat. You play Mobile Infantry Troopers as they battle the opposing Arachnid force. Thousands will die on both sides. You’re disposable. Mobile Infantry does the dying, and that’s what this game is all about. 

VR puts you right there, on the battlefield with your squad, facing big, fast, mean and lethal bugs. Like Rico, you’re surrounded by death. So eyes front, Trooper! It’s your duty to take responsibility and defend the Federation with your life! Or do you wanna live forever?” 

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Hello listeners, we’ve got a bunch to unpack! This week, the PlayStation Podcast team dives into some of the hottest reveals coming out of this week’s news-packed State of Play. Plus, Sid discusses his recent hands-on experience with PS5 Pro launching on November 7.

Stuff We Talked About

• Next week’s releases:
  • Until Dawn | PS5, PC
  • Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream | PS5
  • Spongebob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game | PS5, PS4
• PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October:
  • WWE 2K24
  • Dead Space
  • Doki Doki Literature Club Plus
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Astro Bot new content announced
• The Midnight Walk
• Hell is Us
• Chroma Collection – PS5 accessories
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
• PS5 Pro
• The Plucky Squire
• Doom + Doom II
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

The Cast

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Last week, we asked you to share your favorite VIP Bot cameos in Astro Bot using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

TheFourthFocus shares the Machine Hunter/Aloy VIP Bot in action.

DiogOliveiraVP shares Astro posing with the Lovestruck Lyricist/PaRappa VIP Bot.

omegangell shares the Roguish Conduit/Delsin Rowe VIP Bot blazing through the skies.

shimo_ps shares the Dependable Smuggler/Joel VIP Bot protecting the Immune Survivor/Ellie VIP Bot from the Fungus Head/Click VIP Bot.

spideyfan0480 shares Astro decked out to match the Dad of Boy/Kratos VIP Bot.

i3ecci shares the Tooled-Up Mechanic/Ratchet standing beside the rift jumping Multiversal Rebel/Rivet.

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Astro Bot – Levels
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 2, 2024

Next week, we’re blasting across the galaxies to highlight Astro Bot’s levels. Share your favorite level using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Join us for a tour of the PlayStation booth at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, featuring some memorable photo ops as well as hands-on with a few anticipated PS5 games. Let’s dive into the booth plus gameplay reports for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Sonic x Shadow Generations, Dragon Quest III HD-3D Remake, and Metaphor ReFantazio.

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As PlayStation celebrates its 30th Anniversary, we’re excited to share some thrilling news with our PlayStation Plus members. To make this milestone even more special, we’re adding one of the most beloved titles to the Game Catalog: The Last of Us Part I. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members* will have the chance to experience or revisit the unforgettable journey of Ellie and Joel. Fittingly, the game will be available today, in time to mark the series’ own The Last of Us Day celebrations, September 26.

To make this occasion even more memorable, we’ve lined up several exclusive activities for our community:

PlayStation Stars Campaign

From September 26 to November 26, all PlayStation Stars members that play The Last of Us Part I, which is in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog*, will earn a fearsome Clicker Digital Collectible. 

New PlayStation Plus Avatars

Starting September 26, known by fans and Naughty Dog as The Last of Us Day, you can redeem a voucher code for new PS5 and PS4 avatars featuring key characters from The Last of Us. Choose from Ellie, Joel, or even a Clicker to personalize your profile. The voucher will be available on the PlayStation Plus website and on The Last of Us Page on the PS Plus Hub on your console. The avatars will be available until October 26.

Discount on PlayStation Gear

Show off your fandom with official The Last of Us merchandise! From September 26 to October 26, PlayStation Plus members can enjoy a 10% discount on select The Last of Us merchandise at PlayStation Gear. Simply use the promo code TLOUPLUS10 at checkout. Visit gear.playstation.com  to explore all the items and find the perfect addition to your collection.**

We hope you enjoy these activities as well as the chance to revisit or experience Ellie and Joel’s unforgettable journey when The Last of Us Part I launches onto PlayStation Plus Game Catalog later today.

*Game Catalog varies over time, region/country, and plan. PS Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms.

**Some exclusions Limit one per customer. Must use code at checkout for discount. Only valid on The Last of Us Products.

Monster Hunter Wilds, the next entry in the popular hunting action game series is set to release on February 28 on PS5. I had an opportunity to play the Story Quest at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, where I immersed myself in the gameplay from the introduction of the new story to the intense battle against a frog-like amphibian monster, the Chatacabra. 

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Monster chase in Windward Plains

The Story Quest kicked off with the enjoyable process of creating my character. I had the freedom to customize every detail of the hunter’s appearance and even that of the hunter’s trusted partner, Palico.

As the story began, I found myself traversing Windward Plains in a sand ship with the Forbidden Lands Research Commission. Through flashbacks you’ll learn how your character became a part of the commission. Suddenly, the scene cut to a nerve-racking chase, where a herd of desert-dwelling Balaharas are in hot pursuit of a girl riding a Seikret. Without a moment of hesitation, I leaped onto a Seikret and gave chase to rescue the girl.

Balahara chase

During this chase scene my Seikret was on autopilot to catch up to the girl. However, with some freedom to control the camera view and my ridable partner, I immersed myself in the action as I jumped over boulders and slalomed through the air to close the distance.

When I finally caught up to the girl, it was my turn to be pursued by the hordes of formidable Balaharas in a heart-pounding chase. They were relentless, closing in on us from every possible direction as I dashed through the desert, attacking them with my slinger to fire sonic bombs.

Seikret joy ride

Upon discovering that the young girl was separated from her brother, the hunter decided to find him. To gain more

The Dynasty Warriors series, known for its 1 vs. 1,000 gameplay, is set to make a grand return in 2025 with its latest entry for PS5, Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This upcoming title debuted its first hands-on exhibit at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, where I had the unique opportunity to be guided through the demo play by Mr. Tomohiko Sho, producer & head of Omega Force, Koei Tecmo Games. Here’s a full breakdown of the demo with the tips and insights I received from Mr. Sho.

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Choose your companion and set off to battle

As the game began, I found myself amid the Battle of Sishui Gate, standing at a war council meeting with General Yuan Shao, a key figure spearheading a coalition to overthrow Dong Zhuo. My mission was clear and the stakes were high – I was to defeat Dong Zhuo’s officers, Li Jue and Hua Xiong, who were defending the Sishui Gate.

 As the council concluded, it was time to ready myself for battle. I checked the positions of various armies on the map, selected the protagonist’s armor and weapons, and chose the companion to fight alongside me.

There were three types of weapons to choose from: the General’s Sword, the Gnashing Fang, and the Crescent Blade. While Mr. Sho recommended the versatile General’s Sword for its easy handling, long-time Dynasty Warriors players and skilled action game players are encouraged to opt for either of the other two.

Next, I selected my companion from Xiahou Dun, Guan Yu, and Sun Shangxiang to fight with me on the battlefield. Interestingly, each warrior had a different starting position on the map.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, slated for release on February 28 is an action-adventure game that stars Goro Majima as the sole protagonist for the first time. After losing his memory and being stranded on Rich Island near Hawaii, Majima takes on the role of a pirate and sets out on a grand oceanic adventure. Recently showcased at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, I had the opportunity to get hands-on with this highly anticipated title, and here’s my impression of the gameplay experience.

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Pirate’s life

In this hands-on preview, players control Majima as he embarks on an adventure in Hawaii, engaging in battles and activities. At the start of the game, Majima is shown traveling by ship with his crew, including Jason, his son Noah, and Masaru, a chef and bodyguard. Their goal is to reach the imaginary island of Madlantis, but they make a stop in Honolulu to prepare.

Mad Dog and Pirate style

As Majima and Noah stroll along the beach, the battle tutorial begins. Unlike the RPG live-command system of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, this title returns to Majima’s action-packed, brawling roots, last seen in Yakuza Kiwami 2. Players can switch between two battle styles, Mad Dog and Pirate, with the latter involving a transformation into pirate-themed attire.

In the Mad Dog style, Majima primarily uses his fists and a knife for combat. Compared to Kazuma Kiryu, Majima’s movements are noticeably quicker, with agile footwork and rapid attacks. A standout feature of this style is the ability to jump, allowing Majima to perform air combos. Players can enjoy the satisfaction of launching enemies into the air and continuing their attacks mid-air. The extended airtime makes it easy to execute aerial combos for those unfamiliar with action games.

Additionally, as time passes or when Heat Actions are activated, the Madness Gauge in the top left corner of the screen fills up, allowing Majima to create clones. Once triggered, four shadow

Kristen and I got a chance to go eyes on (and hands on) with the PlayStation Pro console for the first time, and first impressions are promising. Though we didn’t have to time fully investigate every one of the games at last week’s hands-on event, even a cursory review of the PS5 Pro Enhanced games on display revealed immediate and noticeable benefits compared to the current PS5 console.

It was interesting to see how different studios leveraged PS5 Pro’s advanced hardware. Many PS5 games currently allow players to choose between Fidelity and Performance modes to cater to players’ tastes. Some of the PS5 Pro games we saw seemed to combine the benefits of both high fidelity and high performance, taking the experience to another level.

This “best of both worlds” approach was fully apparent in Horizon Forbidden West‘s Pro Performance mode expected to land on November 7 with the launch of PS5 Pro. Compared to the stock Performance mode on PS5, the extra horsepower afforded by PS5 Pro allows for the same high framerate while massively improving image quality. Visual grittiness in fine environmental details like moss, leaves, and the red stealth bushes is banished, but even some textures and holograms looked noticeably cleaner and crisper. The Pro Performance mode also benefits the game’s volumetric effects; misty sunbeams were free of distracting shimmers and strobing we noticed in the PS5’s stock Performance mode.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth sported an impressive PS5 Pro glow up, sporting a high framerate and pin-sharp presentation in its new Enhanced Mode due out November 7. While exploring the countryside, we observed crystal clear vistas devoid of distracting shimmering and visual noise, particularly in classic trouble spots like far-off trees and structures. Then we visited the Gold Saucer’s high-contrast environments, where the neon lights resolved cleanly against the darker environment surfaces. Perhaps more importantly, the high framerate had tangible benefits for combat and traversal, making this a significant upgrade.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered gave another impressive demonstration of PS5 Pro’s vision of high visual quality married to a high framerate. Blades of grass and leaves resolved cleanly, without any distracting shimmering effects or visual noise. Similarly, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was observed running at both a high frame rate and crisp Fidelity-mode resolution and feature set, including its signature ray-traced reflections. It wove a gorgeous presentation overall, balancing small trade-offs to provide the best-looking Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 experience we’ve seen on PlayStation.

Which brings up another topic: ray tracing has seen a more than 2x performance boost on PS5 Pro. And while not every game leverages this unique technology, we’re seeing some very interesting results in early PS5 Pro testing.