It's coming back, but was genuinely stuck in FW not being able to remember how to activate focus mode (hold R3) and thus not able to track tracks to advance the quest. Now I see in HZD any R3 click activates focus mode and you can't 'ping' the terrain as in FW.

Apparently I had the complete digital edition of HZD PS4 version (was it on ps+ some time?) so I downloaded that and did the $10 upgrade to the PS5 remastered version which indeed includes the DLC :) Took a while to figure out how to activate / get to the Frozen wilds lol.

Despite the pro enhanced remaster, HZD still feels a step back in time. Different lighting, I guess no physically based rendering. And character models also look more like plastic. But it runs smooth, razor sharp visuals.


Before I could get into it proper I got sidetracked trying my old Minecraft world on the PS5 version of Minecraft (free upgrade). Err bummer. While the conversion is better now (no big holes in the world) red stone logic is still different, braking all my doors and secret passages. It only activates the one piston now instead of a stack of 2. In the Java version if you charge the top block the block beneath also gets charged, thus activating 2 pistons. Same with pistons side by side, also the one to the left gets activated, but no longer. So my moving ledges have gaps, secret doors all reveal themselves with a 1 block gap :/

Some other logic must be short circuiting as one of my big doors in the water ride adventure turned into a chomping monster instead of opening to let you through. And since the mine carts move slower, the timing is all off and doors that open to let you through close again before you get there, splat... Plus all my signs have no text in the new version. I have multiple hubs around my world where you press a button which re-arranges the tracks to send you there. New edition, no text, guess work, which of the 6 buttons sends me back to the castle... Pretty disappointing to see everything only half working.

Thus back to the PS4 version which still lets you play the old edition (that also supports PSVR1) and loads 10x faster than the new version. (Plus I can find all the materials again, hate the new layout) Draw distance seems to be a little less but otherwise it looks better?! What did they do to Minecraft ugh. At least the Java PS4 version runs perfectly fine on PS5, no slowdown, no visible pop in from chunks loading. Only disadvantage is the fly speed is slower. (New edition, you fly faster than mine carts move, old edition mine carts move faster than you can fly!)

I could use no clip mode on ps5, can't find the mine I was working on last lol. The world is too big and I don't remember all the underground mazes anymore. (World last updated 2016)

Back to Burning shores, or Frozen wilds. Frozen wilds first! Then I can enjoy the QoL improvements of FW later again.

I don't know what it is about Horizon Zero Dawn, I love that game and platinumed it but I don't wanna do the remaster. Even Cyberpunk patched up appeals to me more, there's too many long ass on rails sections in those games, they should learn from The Witcher 3 how to handle linear sections in an open world game and have the pace flow. I couldn't get into Forbidden West cause it's such a hand holding game that has fucked up paving because of it. Same with Ragnorok, I really wish Sony first party would give us at least a little credit towards our intelligence or at least our ability to read the language of game design like FromSoft did with Elden Ring. Dial back all the over design and UI bullshit. And sinilarly, I was gonna buy Dragons Dogma 2 until I seen that the controls are on screen for your entire playthrough by default, that's a big red flag for me.

Anyone got the Portal? I completely forgot about that thing, wondering now how the PRO will effect this thing.

I don't know what it is about Horizon Zero Dawn, I love that game and platinumed it but I don't wanna do the remaster. Even Cyberpunk patched up appeals to me more, there's too many long ass on rails sections in those games, they should learn from The Witcher 3 how to handle linear sections in an open world game and have the pace flow. I couldn't get into Forbidden West cause it's such a hand holding game that has fucked up paving because of it. Same with Ragnorok, I really wish Sony first party would give us at least a little credit towards our intelligence or at least our ability to read the language of game design like FromSoft did with Elden Ring. Dial back all the over design and UI bullshit. And sinilarly, I was gonna buy Dragons Dogma 2 until I seen that the controls are on screen for your entire playthrough by default, that's a big red flag for me.

I always have trouble getting back into games. Last night I couldn't remember how to swing or run in Spiderman 2 (R2) was pressing X.
In Horizon I forgot there's a difference between clicking R3 and longer press of R3 (which activates the analyze mode)

I hated the on rails Ciri sections in TW3, I hard disagree TW3 handles linear sections better. But HZD is indeed no better.

So far Frozen Wilds is great though. But as always I set off exploring first with side quests instead of starting the main story line.

I didn't feel that hand holding in FW, maybe because I set out on my own as soon as it lets you loose. (Yes the start is slow, linear and annoying, just like HZD, just like TW3. But I guess it's necessary to teach the player the basics before letting them out in the real playground)

Take some effort to customize the game to your liking. One big advantage over Elden Ring is you can fine tune the gameplay down to every little detail anytime you want.

Any idea whether Elden Ring will get a pro patch? The boost mode still can't run it at 60 fps :/
I bought the PS5 (physical) version so can't run the PS4 version on PS5 to get 60 fps.

By the way... who at Sony decided that the upper shoulder buttons of the PSVR2 controllers are L2 / R2 and the lower shoulder buttons are L1 / R1?

When every other PS controller has L1 / R1 for the upper shoulder buttons and L2 / R2 for the lower shoulder buttons!

I hope this person steps onto Lego bricks every day for the next decade!

TW3 start isn't annoying, it's perfectly paced, I've replayed that section more than I've replayed the game and it never gets old plus you can opt out of tutorials. The Ciri sections while intrusive do not hurt the games pacing, my opinion they enhance it, they are so perfectly placed if by design or fluke with everything else in the game, just as you're getting bored with something bang you're on another task. Dungeons are so perfectly measured. There's a reason Assassin's Creed and so many others copied the formula for quest design, story telling and pacing between the two, cause it flows so damn well. 

Elden Ring is showing improvements without a patch, quality mode now runs more FPS but the PS4 version is still the optimal version for a locked 60. I think the quality mode on PRO PS5 version should be enough though unless it causes frame pacing issues since it's not locked. 

I think they patch Raganrok and HZFW to make the characters stop giving hints so much or at least give you the option to shut them up. DD2 I need the controls on screen honestly because its kind of complicated and the combat is very hectic. Maybe I can remove it once I have all my skills setup and I can memorize which is which.

So far I'm really enjoying the pro and I'm getting exactly what I wanted. Fidelty mode with 60 FPS. That's all I wanted really. Rebirth looked gorgeous going to replay that for the plat when I get a chance.