Martin Berisford

I don't know about you but there's always been a game that I seem to return to after some prolonged absences. For me, that game is Runescape. I'm not sure why, but I always seem to play it intensely for many months before giving up for an equal amount of time and then repeating that cycle. I've played it since I was like 12 years old so I've invested a lot of my time into it and my youth in some respects. However, it's always a fun one to jump back into every now and then. During the initial lockdown last year, it was the one game I played and it kind of kept me going by having something to achieve in game (Got that 120 herblore cape yo'). Now I haven't touched the game since August last year! What's the one game or series that keeps dragging you back?

The last year been a bit rubbish for all given the global situation so let's get those minds thinking. Is there a specific game you'd like to see come out this year (whether it's a planned one or a dream addition to the lineup) and why is that game the one you want to see. For me, I've got most of the games I really want to play some I'm going for something that isn't out yet and I've no idea when it's meant to be. But the Timesplitters fan project remake of the game. I'd love for that to make it's way out somewhere, I used to love playing TS when I was younger and I would love to play it again now I'm older. It would be the perfect game for me to come out this year. What's on your wishlist for 2021?

What is the best expansion/add-on or DLC you've found yourself downloading? For me, DLC really comes into life in the simulation games - like Civilization and Cities: Skyline. Really adds a breath of fresh air and puts more on the plate for me to play with. For those types of games, I'll generally always look to purchase as I get a lot of enjoyment from them. I've even had all the expansion packs for the SIMs at one point, it just breathed a bit of new life into it for me! So what would you say is your favorite DLC pack? Or are you not a fan of DLC at all?

I can't remember the exact name as it was a few years ago now but I remember the sheer frustration. It was on Ninja Gaiden 2 (Which I heard was notoriously hard anyway so we know where that's going...) but I remember fighting my way through a level and thinking thank god I've finally made it to the boss. Out comes the boss and I've no idea how the heck to get back them. I remember sitting there for hours, over several days, trying to defeat this damn boss and I never did. I threw the game away in anger and haven't played it since!

Honestly every time I've pre-ordered a game and received something (whether it's a code for some downloadable content or otherwise) - it's never made me sit back and think "Yes, that was worth it". I don't really care for the micro-transaction culture anyway and all the fashionista things of buying skins/outfits/etc. so I just generally don't care lol. Like M76 says above me, the only real benefit I suppose is ensuring you actually have the game in your hands on/near release date, the only good thing I can think off anyway!

To be fair, the only reason I have an Epic Game account is because they offered a game for free. I don't even play it anymore but the EG launcher still sits pretty on my PC. I've no personal desire to buy any games anytime soon but if EPIC pops out with a decent free game that takes my fancy, I'll be right back on getting whatever they want filled in, shared etc. because it beats paying actual money. Benefits them, benefits me.

Honestly, the amount of XBOX drops I've seen being done lately (here in the UK at least anyway) I wouldn't have been able to tell. The PS5 has been the harder one to get in my experience, took me about 5 weeks of trying to get one, I know people who have been trying to get one for months! I really feel like they shouldn't have released the consoles though until they had some idea around continuous stock but It's all fed into the hype and Sony/Microsoft will love that I suppose!

I can't lie, that sounds hella cool. Like you though, I'm surprised to hear that's been out for a good few years now, I've never heard of it at all! Being able to 'GTA' my way around the Bully map will be amazing though, I've always loved the Bully game. Really hoping that get around to making a sequel sometime soon, even a remastered Bully would be brilliant. San Andreas is still my top GTA game though, I'd love GTA SA remapped to GTA V's style/graphics. Would be amazing.

I suppose this one is for the PC gamers, or the select games that I know allows you to mod on console. What's your favorite game to mod and why that one? For me, I love modding in general because it can just add another dimension to a game. Skyrim has to be right up there in terms of games that I enjoy modding, I've had hours of endless fun seeing a massive Charizard flying about the place in place of the actual dragon. Just injects some fun into it for me. What about you? Do you mod your games? What's your fave game and why do you like modding it?

If you could only have one console, past or present, for the rest of your life - which console would you choose and why? For me, being an XBOX boy, I think I'd stick with my trusty XBOX mainly because it's what I know and if I have to stick with one forever, I might as well stay affiliated with the one console I definitely know how to work! I feel like the games would get boring after a while though and I'd want some juicy PS exclusives. What about you? What console would you pick and why?

For me, when it comes to looking over what game I want to add to my collection next, the last thing on my list of things to do is check what the gaming reviewer from whatever website thought about it. I much prefer gameplay videos (I suppose that can be a form of review but still). I consider reviews to be a personal thing, and as such, are opinionated and personal. Who's to say Mr Reviewer will love the game whilst I may hate it? Naturally, I don't tend to read them or take notice. What about you? Do you take notice or do you do your own thing?

I'd love to spend the day in Skyrim's world - minus the death and arrows to the knee of course. Whenever I sit down to play the game it always just looks so enticing, especially Whitehaven haha. I do love older, more medieval things though so maybe it's just the right fit for me in terms of the city. Just wish there was a supermarket and electricity though...

I think we should return to the days of when Colina graced the cover of PES and make FIFA great again. I would suspect in some form this year though they may give more prominence to someone in women's football given the recent coverage of the World Cup. Rightly so in my eyes, no reason not to consider having both a female and a male star on the cover really.

Cyberpunk has to be on my list for this one really. I can't say I've heard of the game before that iconic Keanu moment but ever since then, I've been taking in an interest in the game because it looks pretty dang good. Can't wait to pick it up actually and play something different although it's a shame that it's still a year away lol.

Out of all the things I consider when I'm looking to grab myself a game, I wouldn't say that frame-rate comes to the top of my list of considerations. All I care about at the end of the day is that my game plays well and that I am going to enjoy it. It's certainly not something I pay attention to anyway,

As an adult no, I haven't ever felt burnt out with respect to playing games as a whole. Certain games sure, I've more than done the time with them lol. Back when I was teenager, I was playing MMORPG's for probably 10-12 hours per day, getting minimal sleep, school and then repeat. After I finished secondary school, that was certainly a time where I felt burnt out with things. I probably stopped playing for a good year actually as I made the move to University. I needed to get my life in order lol. Nowadays, with work and all that, it's easy to not get burnt out because I have minimal time to play anyway!

This one is really in the title! I'm looking for new game ideas so I wanted to know what was the last game(s) you've played that really stoked your fire, got you on the edge of your seat and unable to wait to play it even more? For me, the last couple games I've played that got me like that was back when GTA V was first release, I just got such a high playing that game - it really hit a 10/10 for me. Also PUBG (I only started playing the other month) but boy that game has got me hooked. I can't even get in APEX because I'm so hooked onto PUBG! What about you?

This year I've probably spent a good 100 or 200 pound on games from stores and I just feel like wow, this is an expensive hobby lol.I think the crux of my issue is that I'm too impatient to wait, especially for new release games on my Xbox One. When I play PC games I know I can get around the cost issue by going to CD Keys for example and getting the game at a reduced price. I'm not personally sure of an alternative for Xbox so if someone has one, please send it my way! What do you think? Are games a tad too expensive now?

I've my Xbox One since day one (even got the controller!) and given that it's now all this time later - I've been considering lately if it is worth splashing the cash a little and getting the One X but I'm not sure it's even going to be worth it if it's just like a display upgrade. I'm not much of a guy who cares about all this 4K display stuff. Is it even worth upgrading if the Xbox Scarlett that I'm hearing about also rears it's head? Not sure if it's better to wait for that or bite the bullet. What do you think?

I usually leave it on 24/7 - I'm generally working on lots of things and despite the fact I know I'm saving my stuff and I got backups in place all over, i get very paranoid that I'll lose my stuff if I shut it off or something similar. I know it's a bit of a silly thing but hey, that's my thing lol. Marginal effects on my bills so I don't mind the added pence here and there!

I'd always recommend either going via the Steam store for your games. Or as an alternative, and to make the money go further, head of to cdkey's, buy your game code there and then take that over to Steam to 'authorise' your game. That way you're saving money, getting the game(s) you want but also the added benefit of the Steam software! I would not touch the EPIC software, yuck.

Wow, seems like a rarity for someone not to play GTA at time of our lives haha. All I can really say is that all the GTA's, but especially V, have been the most amazing and most replayable games I've ever played. The open world aspect, the 'freedom' to do whatever I want and unleash the more...unethical side of me shall we say, is a blast. It's always well written, and when I played GTASA, I always found myself just taking a drive as if it was real life listening to the great soundtracks. I suppose all I can say is I can't recommend it highly enough!

Ah, I suppose this is down to the judicial system of the country you reside in really. I know for example here in the UK, whilst we're not fully lax we do offer our prisoners a bit more creature comforts that some of the general populace would like. If you're in for a **relatively** minor crime and you're on your way to early release or something, I can see the benefit in slowly reintegrating someone into life as opposed to just plopping them back on the streets wondering what am I doing here lol. I understand other countries have a rehab-focused style so i can also see that working. It all depends on circumstance for me to be honest. Defo don't think it should be a carte blanche offer it out to every prisoner style thing though.

I always use them and to be fair, I see no issue in using them. I always give things a shot a couple times and if I just can't get my head around it I'll pop onto Google and have a little look around for a solution. Recently started playing RDR2 so it was actually quite useful because I had no idea how things work lol. I thought I could be a good boy and get that $300 bounty of my head but oh no... Those lovely gold bars from the puzzles helped though, as did the guides in this instance! I do appreciate how it can be viewed as just hooking my way through a game on the words of others though, i would never 100% guide walk myself through a game. That does indeed, as @The Blackangel said, defeat the purpose.

For me, the games that hit these spots are GTA5 and Far Cry 5, I thought both games had some amazing visuals and looked almost realistic. I'm still impressed at how 'modern' GTA5 looks even after all the time it's now been out for, amazing set of work that game is. Far Cry 5 also looked amazing to me, didn't like the story that much to be honest but I loved the 'cinematic' feel to it!