Friday, February 25, 2022

PlayStation.Blog

PlayStation.Blog

Share of the Week: Horizon Forbidden West
The classes of Elden Ring, explained
Babylon’s Fall demo hits PS5 & PS4 tomorrow, prepare with combat primer
10 things to know before starting Elden Ring, out tomorrow
Gran Turismo 7 – What are the differences from Virtual to Reality

Share of the Week: Horizon Forbidden West

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 08:59 AM PST

Last week, we asked you to venture into Horizon Forbidden West and share daring moments of Aloy and the world around her using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week's highlights:

SynthOrch shares Aloy in a fighting stance while tangling with a machine.

Sarokeye shares a night time landscape with a Tallneck in the distance.

Dominik_VP shares Aloy riding a Bristleback into the ruins of a desert city.

justinphotomode shares a portrait of Aloy framed by the moon.

hoffman_vp shares a heavily armored Aloy sliding into a fight.

visualcam9 shares Aloy diving underwater.

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: Horizon Forbidden West – Aloy
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on March 2, 2022

Next week, we're focusing in on Aloy. Share epic portraits the red-headed heroine during her journey through Horizon Forbidden West using #PSshare #PSblog for a chance to be featured.

The classes of Elden Ring, explained

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 07:00 AM PST

Of course, before all of that comes selecting your character class. In Elden Ring, FromSoftware gives players a wide variety of classes to choose from. Each is unique in style, providing various archetypes for players to experiment with. Here is a breakdown of those classes to help you in your selection.

The Warrior

The Warrior starts players off with dual blades and the highest base Dexterity available in the game. This means you can either go in with your swords for double slash attacks or you can enjoy a longer-ranged game with the bow once you've found one. This high stat offsets the vulnerabilities created by having to get so up close and personal with to land sword strikes and its shield parry ability.

Jumping into the fray with the Warrior can be somewhat of a gamble, as their short-range scimitar blades leave you very hittable in turn. Instead, try to stick and move—land a few quick strikes and retreat to hit enemies at range with your bow. When it comes to approaching larger groups, it's often safest to stay at range and pick off targets one by one.

Prophet

Players who want to primarily use incantations, a magic ability dependent on the Faith stat, should consider the Prophet class. With its highest attributes being Mind and Faith, one can expect a significant toolbox of incantations, spells, and offensive and defensive buffs. One of the most exciting inclusions of this class is its starting spear weapon.

The Prophet does slightly above average damage, which can be pushed even further thanks to its strong weapon skills. The only thing truly holding back the Prophet are its low defensive stats, with this class having some of the lowest starting Vigor and Endurance in the game. Thankfully, its defensive incantations and good damage make it worth trying.

Hero

The Hero is a class proficient in melee combat thanks to its considerable Strength stat. Giant weapons and physical attacks are aplenty here, making it the heavy-hitter of the classes. However, that damage comes at a cost.

The Hero is not without some weaknesses: its physical attacks have slower startup time than other classes and its Focus Point pool is a lot lower than the Prophet's (though the damage potential is high). You'll have to manage what little magic usage you may have and time attacks more thoughtfully when employing this role. But the payoff is well worth it if you master the pros and cons, as the Hero can develop to handle many situations, especially with more experience points being put into Endurance.

Vagabond

The Vagabond will probably be most familiar to those well-traversed in the world of Souls-style games. This class has high Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, and Vigor stats, making it a good choice for those wanting to stick to the basics of sword-and-shield combat. Its stats also give a bit of room to dabble in a somewhat physical-magic hybrid build.

The Vagabond's high Strength means it can wear heavier armor while still retaining good movement speed, making it an ideal specimen in wars of attrition; it's difficult to kill and does tons of damage despite not having access to magic of any kind. This makes it an amazing class for player-vs-player encounters and one-on-one fights. On the flipside, its provided skillset isn't particularly effective against groups, ranged attackers, and enemies on horseback.

Bandit

If the stealth-based game plan is more your speed then the Bandit is the perfect class to start your adventure with. Equipped with a short bow, this class is well-equipped to sneak up on foes or take them out from a safe range instead of risking a physical confrontation, which its below average strength would advise against.

The very high arcane stat makes the Bandit a great choice for anyone pushing for a "luck" build as well. This attribute governs discovery, the likelihood of finding items, and gives resistance to certain magics and death. This focus on discovery makes it a more unorthodox class compared to those more focused on combat and magic, though its key for those that are focused on finding the most runes and items possible.

Astrologer

Astrologer is another unorthodox class for newcomers to the Souls formula. This class is one of the few that is fully focused on magic, making sorcery its main way of dealing damage. It hosts a rather miniscule Strength level which makes it ill-advised to use this class if you're looking to deal physical damage.

Despite it not being a physical class the Astrologer comes equipped with a Short Sword and Small Shield along with its main weapon, the Astrologer's Staff. With magic being so powerful in Elden Ring, this class' weakness in the Strength department isn't much of a detriment. The ability to do massive damage from long distances from the start is a huge plus.

Samurai

The Samurai class is a great example of a dual-class at its finest. The Samurai starts the game with high Endurance and Dexterity, making great use of its starting katana and longbow. This duo of weapons is enhanced due to the katana's bleed ability, dealing damage over time to anyone affected.

When utilizing both in succession the Samurai becomes a master of moving in and out of the action while remaining safe in battle. It can also punish small mistakes with its quick sheathed blade attack. However, its lack of Arcane, Faith, and Intelligence abilities make this class one that won't have much magical prowess or many chances to dabble in the Focus Point abilities.

Prisoner

Like the Samurai, the Prisoner is a hybrid class and a master of both swords and sorcery. And , thanks to a high Strength stat, the Prisoner can outpace similar classes in damage and armor output, making this a highly adaptable choice.

In addition, its high Mind and Intelligence stats offers you even greater flexibility when it comes to offensive magic, though healing isn't its strong suit. Like Samurai, the Prisoner is a class that can thrive in almost any situation.

Confessor

The Confessor class is somewhat of a hybrid between knight and mage-types. It boasts high Strength, Dexterity, Mind, and Faith stats, allowing players to deal moderate physical damage and execute powerful projectile sorcery attacks. It also comes equipped with a Great Shield, making it a good choice for more defensive players.

Confessors can also buff their weapons, making them a powerhouse with the right amount of magic. With enough stat buffs pointed in the right direction, the Confessor can become one of the most well-rounded and freeform classes in Elden Ring.

Wretch

For those that want the most brutal Elden Ring journey, the Wretch class returns, offering you as little advantage as possible. You are naked and armed with only a simple club, and are given an even spread of stats across the board. While you can technically take this class in any direction, starting as the Wretch makes this already punishing experience even more severe.

Elden Ring is packed with interesting builds and varied play-styles to sink your teeth into. What class will you be selecting on your journey into the Lands Between?

Babylon’s Fall demo hits PS5 & PS4 tomorrow, prepare with combat primer

Posted: 24 Feb 2022 08:00 AM PST

Hey everyone! Square Enix and PlatinumGames are excited to show you our brand-new Combat 101 trailer for Babylon’s Fall and take a deeper look at all things combat. In Babylon’s Fall you take on the role of a Sentinel, the once conscripted prisoners of the Empire. A parasitic device called the Gideon Coffin is implanted into your back which grants you unrivaled powers. You need to master your true potential to survive the summit and take on the Tower of Babel.

Babylon's Fall demo hits PS5 & PS4 tomorrow, prepare with combat primer

Load up your arsenal

As the above trailer shows, weapons are your choice as you can quad wield four weapons in Babylon’s Fall. Each weapon type has distinct skills and abilities, with endless customization for you to find exactly how you like to play.

Quad wielding not only allows you to customize your playstyle, it also allows you to react to all of the threats that the Tower of Babel will throw at you. Whether it's equipping four of the same weapons or mixing it up, the choice is yours with hundreds of builds available.

However, you'll want to consider the different types of enemies when arming yourself for battle, as you will face all manner of foes from flying to shielded to ranged to melee. Each weapon will be adept at handling different situations, such as striking flying enemies with ranged weapons will yield greater success. While attacking shielded enemies with a hammer will break their guard with ease.

Let's take a closer look at the load out options:

Swords – A great choice for all round combination attacks. New Sentinels will find this suitable for all the dangers thrown at you, however experienced Sentinels might want to add range to their arsenal. Launch your enemies into the air with special Spectral Attacks.

Hammers – For those warriors that seek power over speed, hammers are your friend. Enemies will know when your hammer is at full strength. Strike devastating blows and smash your foes into dust.

Bows – Those who want to pick off their enemies from afar should always bring their trusty bow with them.

Wielding the bow allows a Sentinel to keep out of the heat of battle, by firing off a salvo of arrows at their foes. But for those who seek elemental destruction should look to Rods.

Rods – Offering huge versatility on the battlefield, rods allow you to not only strike from afar but also deliver debilitating debuffs to your enemies or boost your party with powerful buffs. But be aware utilizing the full power of rods is taxing on even the hardiest of Sentinels.

Shields – Don't forget about shields! You can use them to taunt waves of enemies and deploy protective barriers to assist other Sentinels that join you on your adventures. What they lack in offensive capabilities they more than make up for in protecting you and your fellow Sentinels.

Each weapon comes with its own set of stats and enchantments meaning that one sword may differ heavily from another. So be sure to gather as much loot as possible from your adventures.

Specializing in these weapons is going to be key in your ascent of the tower. But be sure to coordinate with fellow Sentinels using emotes (gestures) in-game to work together to handle the toughest of foes.

The Gideon Coffin

You might have heard gutwork mentioned in the trailer, which brings us back to the Gideon Coffin.

This device brings the ability to use gutwork actions to help you master your journey through the tower. Gutwork actions are special actions that utilize the Gideon Gut with various advantages, below are some examples:

Soul Corrupt enables you to channel dark energy into the soul of a tethered enemy. You can weaken them with debuffs.

Use Soul Snatch to tether to a downed or recently killed enemy and gain the ability to steal their HP and SP.

Now you have these fundamentals you'll be ready to begin your ascent of the tower of babel.

Babylon’s Fall arrives on March 3. PlayStation owners will have access to a free downloadable demo of Babylon’s Fall beginning tomorrow, February 25, with any progress made available to transfer over to the full game.

10 things to know before starting Elden Ring, out tomorrow

Posted: 24 Feb 2022 07:00 AM PST

Elden Ring's release draws near and everyone knows it will demand players' best just like FromSoftware's past Souls-like ventures. Though the battleground is now the realm of Lands Between, your past experiences aren't completely irrelevant, save for a few new features and all-new hurdles to leap over. To help get you started, we've prepared some tips for anyone looking to armor up and take on one of the largest FromSoftware adventures to date.

Horseback Tips

One of the primary methods of travel in Elden Ring is aboard your mount, Torrent. This Spirit Steed allows you to travel crazy distances thanks to its ability to double jump, awesome speed, and ability to add an extra combat option when it comes to battle. Torrent makes for a powerful tool in combat, especially since you'll receive the same number of experience points whether mounted or not.

When fighting in open areas against larger and slower enemies, mount Torrent by using the Spectral Steed Whistle. Its extra speed and ability to stay in constant motion while in battle make it the perfect tool to land quick attacks and fall back, especially when fighting giants, shielded enemies, and mounted foes.

However, Torrent is also a great ally against standard hordes thanks in part to its fast vertical attack capabilities. By pressing L3 you can leap from your steed and perform a highly advantageous jumping slash attack. You won't want to endure too many attacks while riding the specter though, as enough damage will lead to broken posture and you risk taking a good bit of damage while recovering from the fall—not to mention you'll have to use a flask or rest at a Site of Grace to bring it back.

Exploration Tips

Much like in past Souls games you'll be your own guide when traveling the road of the Tarnished. However, there are hints that show you're nearing a site of interest or progression. Bosses, powerful enemies, large hordes of foes, and of course, Stakes of Marika are all highlighted to lead you in the right direction.

Sites of Grace are the bonfires of Elden Ring and can help you find your way. These places of rest emanate a faint golden trail that you can follow to the next big objective or location to progress the plot. Be sure to camp out at the Site of Grace northwest of the starting area to meet Melina, the maiden who will help you start leveling up using collected Runes (xp resource similar to Souls).

When venturing into a new area, your map will be a blank slate until you visit a plaque located somewhere within. Locate this small icon on the map, drop a marker, and find this plaque to splash detail and color onto your map. Hidden caves, fortresses, and other points of interest will become easier to find and explore.

Stealth can be key

As in past FromSoftware titles in this vein, you will often find yourself outnumbered in Elden Ring. The Lands Between are occupied by many different beings and many want nothing but your demise. Some of these factions have bases that you'll encounter and need to take out for loot or experience. In moments like this, it is key to use your surroundings and find the safest way possible to take on these hordes of foes.

Sometimes that means delving into a mine, sneaking up on workers picking away at resource veins, and backstabbing them one by one. Other times that means sneaking behind a towering giant guarding a castle to pilfer the rewards inside without a fight. There are many ways to go about reaching your goals and you're in control of it all.

Don't get caught slacking

While traversing the world you'll encounter various boss enemies in random areas, sometimes dwelling in caves or roaming the fields on horseback.You can avoid these battles if you aren't quite ready, but sometimes the fight finds you. One case is the Flying Dragon Agheel who comes soaring down from the sky, which you may not even realize until it’s too late. Keep your head on swivel, bank your Runes often, and travel while mounted for a quick escape if you're ambushed.

You don't have to fight alone

Spirits Ashes are a unique item to Elden Ring you can acquire upon defeating enemies. Later in the game you can find or purchase ashes of certain fallen enemy spirits and use them to assist you in battle. To use these ashes you'll need to collect the Spirit Bell from a mysterious witch near the Church of Elleh, equip them like an item, and activate them when nearby a rebirth monument (you'll know one of these little markers is nearby via an icon on the left hand side of the screen). Summoning spirits will cost you varying amounts of Focus Points, with the stronger summons costing more. Unlike the online cooperative summoning feature, the spirit is controlled by an AI.

Use cases for Spirit Ash assistants are many. If you're struggling to sneak past an enemy base, try summoning an AI spirit to take the heat and draw attention away from you. In a similar way, you can use the spirits against strong bosses to draw their focus while you do damage. Again, there is a ton of freedom in Elden Ring and Spirit Ashes play a huge part in that.

Do not blindly select your class

As in the past of the Souls-like games, class selection is the core of Elden Ring. You're going to want to pay close attention to what class you pick to get the most bang for your buck. The best part is that there is no wrong answer here. Each class serves a different purpose and just about any type of player can find the right fit from the roster. You can find out about the previously revealed classes in our class breakdown.

The stats you'll most want to pay attention to when starting out are Vigor (HP and defense vs fire and poison), Mind (determines FP and focus.), Strength (required to wield heavy weapons and boosts attack power for Strength-scaling weapons; improves physical defense), Dexterity (required to wield advanced weapons; also reduces spell cast times, improves posture, makes it harder to fall from your horse, boosts attack power of Dexterity-scaling weapons, and softens fall damage), Faith (affects Incantations and magic power of Faith-scaling weapons), and Intelligence (Glintstone sorceries; boosts magic power of Intelligence-scaling sorceries and magic resistance).

For example, if you want a magic-focused build it's best to start as an Astrologer or Prophet. For a more strength-based physical type, a Hero or Vagabond may be the class for you. If you're looking for something more versatile in dual fields akin to a strength-magic hybrid it's easy to recommend a Prisoner or Confessor. For those that want to wield advanced weaponry, there are the high Dexterity Warrior and Samurai classes. It's all about experimenting and examining what exactly you want to get out of your new Tarnished.

Footage from last year's Closed Network Test, not representative of final game.

Charge attacks are very useful

Charge attacks are a mainstay in Souls-like games, but Elden Ring takes them to a new level. Instead of only being able to charge standard physical weapon attacks, you can also charge certain skills and spells. Charged spells are especially powerful, not only adding on to the base damage, but many will give these casts different effects. Those effects can vary from added projectiles, longer firing rate, lengthier duration, and larger attack zone.

For example, as many saw in the network test, the Dragon Fire incantation can summon a large dragon head and unleash a wide range fireblast. If the button used to fire this ability is charged (done by holding) then the dragon will continuously fire its devastating blow. This leads to moments where you can get hits on large hordes of enemies at once or even continuously damage a larger foe. As with everything else in the game, you're encouraged to experiment with these charges and use them in unique ways in a variety of situations.

Pay attention to the Stakes of Marika

When wandering the Land of Realms Between you will come across a myriad of peculiar statues. These statues, called Stakes of Marika, tend to appear when entering new locations where powerful enemies will show up. These structures operate as temporary checkpoints that you can respawn from to prevent a long trip back from your last savepoint. Be sure you prepare for a real fight any time you pass one of them.

Watch for materials and don't forget to craft

You'll be doing lots of item hunting and crafting in Elden Ring thanks to the new crafting system. Before you get started, however, you're going to need to get a crafting kit from Merchant Kale for 50 runes. You can find the merchant after leaving the initial cave and first Site of Grace in Limgrave by heading north to the Church of Elleh (If you see the heavily armed horseback knight, Tree Sentinel, then you're headed in the right direction). Once you acquire this tool you'll be seeking different cookbooks that hold a multitude of formulas to craft different items. A few you can purchase from the merchant himself.

For example, one very important recipe will help a lot with your trusty spirit steed, Torrent. After collecting Rowa berries from the many bushes throughout the world, you can craft Rowa raisins. These can be used to heal Torrent and are especially handy when going into battle on horseback.

Use all your offensive mechanics

Elden Ring sees the return and introduction of many mechanics that can lead to even more damage if mastered. The three that you will want to remember the most are Guard Countering, two-handed weapon style, and Power Stances.

Guard Countering entails blocking an attack with the L1 guard button while a shield is equipped and immediately pressing R2 to strike back with a powerful blow. You can do this with both two-handed weapons and shields. It makes fighting back against standard enemies a breeze, as it often staggers them allowing for a quick finish.

Two-Handing weapons, which is done by holding triangle and pressing L1, offers the typical increase in damage. This makes it the perfect workaround for those classes that are less focused on Strength but need to deal heavy damage in a pinch. These attacks can more easily stagger enemies due to the posture damage inflicted.

Finally, Power Stances return from Dark Souls 2 and 3. If you dual wield two weapons that share a type (two axes of different varieties, for example) you can attack with both weapons at once. This stance increases damage output and offers a new moveset.

Elden Ring may be taking us to an all-new world, but that doesn't mean you can't come prepared. If you follow these tips and approach all situations with curiosity and determination, you'll spend less time looking at the "You Died" screen.

For more tips on surviving your first few hours with Elden Ring, including online multiplayer and story progress, click here.

Gran Turismo 7 – What are the differences from Virtual to Reality

Posted: 24 Feb 2022 06:00 AM PST

Have you ever wondered what kind of driving similarities can be discovered from driving on the same circuit in Gran Turismo 7 (virtual) compared to real-life (reality)?

With just over a week away from the launch of Gran Turismo 7, we thought it would be fun and interesting to have two racing experts to help us answer that question – one from virtual, the other from reality.

Utilizing Willow Springs International Raceway as our testing ground, the super-fast 2.5 mile, nine-turn road racing circuit has been home to some of the most classic Gran Turismo battles, including the FIA GT Championships 2021.

Professional race car driver, Dai Yoshihara, pilots a race-prepped Evasive Motorsports' Tesla Model 3 Performance vehicle provides his real-life pointers on how to be tackle the one of the fastest and most challenging tracks in the U.S, including the ideal vehicle modification, racing lines, and small nuisances that only an experienced driver would know.

In parallel, a longtime fan of Gran Turismo, Steve Brown aka Super GT takes a modified Tesla Model S and gives his detailed insights from a virtual perspective through his in-game experiences with Gran Turismo 7.

Watch our two part Virtual to Reality video series where these experts provide their insights on the differences in GT7 and real life. Be sure to not miss the Side-by-Side comparison video of a flying lap in Gran Turismo 7 and in real life through the cockpit of a Tesla vehicle.

Gran Turismo 7 – What are the differences from Virtual to Reality

From Virtual to Reality: Gran Turismo 7 and Real-Life

Gran Turismo 7 – What are the differences from Virtual to Reality

From Virtual to Reality: Side-by-Side Comparison

Stay updated via Gran-Turismo.com as we prepare for Gran Turismo 7 to arrive on March 4 for PS5 and PS4.

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