PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year) Reviews

• You still get what you pay for...

  
  By A295KQ48VR565B on 2005-07-30
  Having been a subscriber to this mag since Fall of '97 (around issue #2 or #3, I believe), I can say the new look the magazine offers is the best since then. With a more adult feel, much of the corny humor has been toned down, and the magazine actually looks more professional than ever. Gone, for instance, is the ridiculous swimsuit issue, which had often badly drawn video game "women" in stupid situations. Starting with issue 111 (June 2006), the magazine has offered better and longer spreads on upcoming games, and a more in-depth review for its Game of the Month. I really wish, though, that the PlayStation games and the PSP games were better spread out, perhaps seperated, and not mixed with each other. The overall feel of the Magazine, though, has grown up and really doesn't need to be a guilty pleasure anymore. However, with all the good the magazine has to offer, some of what has made the magazine not so good has remained. Fanboyism can still rear its ugly head, and their pro PlayStation lovin' can lead to some not so investigative reporting. While they can be abrasive to the PSP, at times, many other instances reveal some bias for Sony, like when they repeated Sony's garbage about why the PS3 controller won't have rumble feedback: because it would interfere with the motion sensor technology. So, why does Wii's controller work? No mention about Immersion vs Sony. None. It's kinda sad and hilarious that a teen gamer on a message board can connect the dots more than supposed game "journalists." And what about the comment from Kazou "Kaz" Hirai (Prez of SCEA)? He stated: "I wish they [Microsoft] would come up with some strategies of thier own, but they seem to be going down the path of everything we do." Yeah, because Sony is so original (I won't even go into "Entitlements"). In the issue before, PSM acknowledged Sony's copying (they used "mugged") of Nintendo's Wii controller, but here no follow up? Curveball questions and reporting if ever there was. Almost as bad as EGM.And while the Game of the Month review can be larger (the staff's Final Fantasy XII review [October 2006, issue 115] was 14 pages long!), the result is passed to the other reviews; a page can be crammed with up to four reviews a page. I should say four paragraphs per pages, as that's what the reviews end up being.When they talk and report about games, PSM really tends to do thier best work, such as their interviews with Hideo Kojima and the spreads regarding Metal Gear. I guess that's why I can recomend the mag at its current price. 12 bucks is nothing (the price is partly why I stuck with the mag for this long). Check it out for yourself, but just remember that PSM is Playstation "family" only--brand specific. Keep that in mind when reading the "independent" praising of Sony by its fans.
  
  

• Concise and well written

  
  By A22AD8M2SSOFHJ on 2006-12-31
  This magazine has been on newstands since the days of the PS1. Now the PS3 has arrove and it is rolling towards the next generation of game play. I enjoy this magazine quite a bit. It's not an official Playstation Magazine but that generally keeps the writers from being biased. I know in general I can always get an honest answer and a good review. The magazine is a decent price compared to the official magazine which costs twice as much at newsstands just because it offers a demo disc. I will stay with this magazine to get my news and pics.
  
  

• WICKED FOR HARDCORE GAMERS

  
  By A14XRQB29IAB2D on 2004-08-17
  this magazine is the best one out there. if your a hardcore ps2 gamer, get this for a year or two. ive gotten this since it was still psone magazine and i have never seen one bad issue. they give you reviews that are %97.9 of the time helpful. you know the're serious 'cause they write down entire levels! PLUS THEY GOT SWIMSUIT ISSUES! a must for the gamer.
  -XESX
  
  

• Great magazine for PS2

  
  By A2SYNDZSH73SFG on 2005-04-15
  This is definately a must buy for every PS2 fan. Great reviews on popular current games, giving strong points and weak points for each reviewed game, previews on popular upcoming games, and some very helpful tips for your more popular games.
  
  Note the word "popular" as this magazine will not cover every single game out there.
  
  Comical captions here and there also make it a pleasure to read. Throw in the annual swimsuit issue which the previous reviewer mentioned, opinion pages and fan art, and there should be nothing stopping a serious PS2 gamer from subscribing to this magazine.
  
  

• Hail to the king of playstation magazines

  
  By A17U700XQL9C98 on 2005-06-22
  Alrightly. Folks it doesn't get any better than this. This magazine blends humor with serious reviewing. They will give the strong points and bad while keeping it real to the hardcore player elite - like me! Anyhow, I've read this magazine for a while and I've never been disappointed. The "Ask the 800 lbs. Gorilla" section is a riot. The Bottomline gamer this is an unbiased, not corporatly owned (like OPM, and XBOX magazine) and a pleasing magazine to read. Anyone "hooked" on gaming and looking for great recommendations on must have games should pick up a PSM and get a subscription.
  
  
• A mag you can trust
  By A345CFDPZWWLLT on 2005-12-25
  PSM is the only mag i know to ever admit they underrated ICO. I quite agree with their ratings which seem to escape most of the commercial influences. The whole package doesn't glitter but it is very effective. It takes me hours to read it unlike some other mags that won't keep me busy fore more than a bus stop interval.
  
  
• Still great and worth the green!
  By A1K31NF81TS0CO on 2007-05-22
  I just recently re-subscribed to this magazine. With the downfall of OPM (Official Playstation Magazine, the best single platform gaming magazine, ever, in my opinion Opsm : Official Playstation 2 Magazine) I was forced to come back to this one. I know that has a negative tone, but I try to subscribe to no more than 4 or 5 gaming magazines (9 at one time was my record) and this just wasn't one of them.
  
  First things first: this magazine still is very low priced and worth the money. At $1.00 per issue, for a subscription, it can't be beat,.. well not quite. I got a subscription off of EBay for about $10.50 for two years worth (final price, no additional shipping charges) and that would be the best deal I've ever seen.
  
  I also noticed the toning down of the sexy covers, and raunchy jokes, etc. I have to say I do miss this. I'm in my 40's, married, and loyal to my wife, and I need that "fan service" in my life to take the edge off, if you know what I mean, so I for one, miss the "swimsuit edition." I always looked forward to that issue. But, such is life.
  
  The reviews are very concise, and straightforward. I notice the reviews are quite short now, probably to save paper. I also notice the mega previews, of such games as Devil May Cry 4, just recently. I appreciate this, but look forward to games I have an interest in. I do read it cover to cover, for my gaming knowledge.
  
  I also see a gradual "favoritism" towards PS3 titles, which would seem obvious, except for the fact that Sony has done noticeably lower sales this generation, as opposed to its PS1 and PS2 days. I would think PSM would be noting this, and in such, still highlighting PS2 titles. Believe me, I understand looking towards the future, and not being stuck in the past, but Sony themselves has prided themselves on continuing to support past gen systems, and producing super titles (God of War II, and Guitar Hero II come to mind.). With such a large userbase, you think they would feature great write ups on the current PS2 hits being pumped out every week.
  
  Writing is superior to other multiplatform magazines, and I continue to get a great deal from the editors opinions. Thankfully, they haven't gotten more childish, as the average Playstaiton gamer continues to age.
  
  Two big thumbs up, MC White says check it out!
  
  
• Wish I would have subscribed earlier...
  By APGNSFT5XCFIT on 2007-01-18
  Overall, this is a good magazine. Unfortunately, I should have subscribed earlier. I have received two issues so far and much of the magazine's contents deal with the PS3 and its upcoming games. I own the PS2 and do not plan to upgrade to the new system at the present time. Thus, I pretty much missed out on earlier issues which would have helped me in selecting games for my current system. Nonetheless, you own a PS3, or a PSP, you can't go wrong with this selection.
  
  
• Great Mag. Great Price.
  By A3W0SPVH1GJB2W on 2007-08-23
  I have been a PSM reader for years. Previews, reviews, and highlights are spot on. It allows me to be ahead of the game (...sorry for the pun).
  
  
• Decent
  By A1Y00SAERBZ21T on 2007-09-14
  The reviews are objective.
  
  The feature articles not as strong.
  
  Hey, bring back the swimsuit issues!!
  
  
• Good for previewing far off games, bad for reviews.
  By A16GY2FUUGXRZL on 2007-09-22
  I personally like this magazine. It's nice to get information specific to systems I own (playstations)- and a lot of it at that- every month. They have some pretty solid news about the games i'm looking forward to getting most, and so far have covered MGS 4 great (been something about it every issue i've gotten yet). The only thing I dislike about it are the reviews it gives every month. They're usually not in line with my feelings, or any of the people i talk to about the reviews online (forums, etc). They gave warhawk a 6.5/10, while every other reputable games site has given it scores of at least 8.0/10 and up (sept EGM apparently)(I personally love that game). The opposite goes for heavenly sword, which received a 9.7/10 if my memory serves me right, while other sites averaged it in the 7/10 area.
  
  However, they have provided good coverage for the games on the playstation systems, which is what i bought it for anyway. I'm a big fan of their article on UT3, and pretty much all of their previews have been stellar. They cover a wide range of games, not just the most popular ones everyone and their mother have heard about.
  
  So, it's a pretty good buy for the price, but not if you're looking for reviews- but since most people turn to IGN, 1up, or gamespot for reviews anyway, and use magazines for more in depth stories about games that those sites haven't even began to cover, this shouldn't be a problem.
  
  
• Great magazine
  By A3H0742RQSIRSJ on 2008-03-14
  As a PS3 owner, this magazine is awesome. Spot-on reviews, numerous first peeks at upcoming games, and good writing to top it all off. The reviews and previews are very in depth with pictures of things you actually want to see from the game. This magazine covers all aspects of Playstation gaming, from PS2, PSP, PS3, and Playstation Network. It really helps you see every game you can buy for your system.
  
  Another perk is that the writers include things other than just games. You can also read interesting reviews of upcoming blu-ray movies and various gadgets.
  
  All in all, a perfect magazine for the Playstation gamer. At $1.50 an issue, you can't pass this up.
  
  
• PSM Magazine
  By A3EW5LW8XCF6AH on 2007-05-15
  This is a great magazine for Playstation fans. If you just want PS news and want to skip the other consoles, this is a good way to do it. News and reviews are fair and seem unbiased.
  
  
• I don't even own a PS3 yet, but PSM is an outstanding magazine
  By A31OS2457N39UA on 2007-06-19
  I used to subscribe to EGM, but the format and attitude of that magazine has really changed throughout the years. While Xbox and Wii aren't really covered at all, you'll find news about the hundreds of games available on PSP, PS2 and PS3. The writing in PSM is concise and full of information, but it maintains a good sense of humour thoughout.
  
  PSM gets me excited about the mindblowing PS3 titles to come: Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy XIII, Grand Theft Auto 4 and more. I will, without a doubt, continue reading this magazine once I purchase a PS3. It has, by far, the best Playstation coverage out of any magazine out there (and that includes the Offical Playstation Magazine.)
  
  
• Great magazine!
  By A2XT2RYJ3BS33T on 2007-10-10
  Very cheap price. Haven't recieved 1st issue yet, but am really looking forward to it!
  
  

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