What We Played #526 – Halo Infinite, Haven & Pokémon Shining Pearl

Black Friday is such a weird one, isn’t it? For such a long time it was an almost purely American institution, a mad scramble through shop doors as they open so that crazed bargain hunters could grab anything that was in sight. Then it come over to the UK and Europe and, while there were a few years at the start where it turned into a similar frenzy (albeit in a more digital, internet shopping age), it’s mellowed out significantly since then.

Oh sure, there’s some good deals out there, and a small handful that really do stick out, but the sales are now spread out over more than a week, and most of the discounts you see are those that you expect from more everyday discounts and sales. Still, have you struck lucky with something? Need some pointing in the right direction? We’ve got some suggestions and for PS5 owners in particular.

When not idly looking through the sales, I’ve spent most of my gaming week storming through Halo Infinite’s multiplayer. The gameplay remains absolutely sublime, the cackling joy of going on an absolute tear through enemies one, two, even four or five at a time in the more chaotic (and lucky) moments. It’s such a shame that the progression and unlocks are so poorly considered. You can expect our review in the not-too-distant future.

Steve jumped the gun this week to wax lyrical about Haven, which he played before it leaves Game Pass. “The music is superb, the characters pretty likeable (and likeably pretty) and the relationship refreshingly believable. Combat was a bit one-note though and might have worked better being action rather than turn based. Still, glad I played it.” That was joined by Monster Hunter Stories 2 and some tidying up so he can play Ragnarock and Half-Life Alyx in PC VR. He also played his first proper D&D session as “a Gimli-esque dwarf who hits things and swears a lot.”

It was just Back 4 Blood for Gamoc, who’s been having fun trying to figure out what on Earth his PS5 wants with the PS4 version that it insists on installing, while Aran has been journeying into Mass Effect 3 from the Legendary Edition trilogy. “It has been fun going back to the series and I’m looking forward to what comes next,” he says.

Reuben has been “continuing with Dungeon Encounters regardless of my better judgement – I’m now down to floor 66. Otherwise I’ve been grinding out the last things in FFXIV before the expansion drops, and Fortnite before the season ends.”

It’s been the continuing PS5 adventures of Spider-Man for Tuffcub, who has not played Destiny 2 this week. Jim, meanwhile, has been taking a break from online shooters to smash through Final Fantasy VII Remake. “There are weird things about FF7R that feel awkward and the dialogue/voice acting is a bit too melodramatic for my liking. However, I’m starting to get stuck into the more advanced layers of Materia loadouts and character progression. I’m about halfway through and hope to pick up the Intergrade DLC before Christmas.”

And finally we come to Nic B. He’s been playing a game of telephone with his insurance provider. Not for fun, of course, but because he was burgled and his PS5 (and plenty of other things) stolen. I bet the nobber who did it is has been crowing about the great Black Friday discount they got on this second hand console…. At least had his Switch and Pokémon Shining Pearl on his person at the time, so he can while away the time on hold.

Hopefully you haven’t been robbed in the past seven days and have had much more fun just playing and enjoying games. What have you been up to?