@dskatter Reminds me of when Netflix and Redbox killed Blockbuster, then Netflix killed Redbox, and now major retailers are ditching Blu-Rays and DVDs because subscription services are everywhere. The cycle repeats, and yet people are quick to blame the product and/or the development teams ๐ค
I jumped back in with friends last night after a long break from Infinite and we had a blast! The remade Halo 3 maps are meticulously crafted and feel great to play all of these years later.
The pacing was great but the reveals weren't that exciting at all. The Game Freak game probably being the unexpected highlight. E from me. I'm officially sick of steampunk shooters.
Of course it kicks off with Feel Good Inc and Somebody Told Me. Really pulls you into the era this aired in. Is this sadness? Nostalgia? I'm feeling a lot of feelings right now ๐ญ
@ElkinFencer10 Reminds me of what they pulled with GoldenEye for digital Rare Replay owners. Couldn't bother to patch the game to properly insert it, so make it some weird separate deal.
Loving it so far, they really knocked this out of the park with the little QOL improvements but retaining the jank. Can't speak for series performance since I'm playing via Steam.
@old-dad Would be good to know! I have a Retro Fighters controller for PS3 and sadly it has some weird issues with the analogue sensitivity, so if that issue doesn't exist with this model I'll consider it!
It's definitely very 360-like. My main concern is those triggers, the triggers on 360 have a very specific feel, and the Retro Fighters triggers look like they'll feel very different (almost more Xbox One in appearance) ๐
@redgrave0 Had to shout out your awesome pfp (and username for that matter)! I read the DMC novel several times over, and still have my original copy on the shelf๐ฅ
Today I saw a listing for a refurb Elite Series 2 for $50 at a local electronics store, case accessories and all! Almost jumped out the door, but then did some research and saw many mentioning analogue drift after less than 2 months of usage. I didn't expect them to use hall effect or anything, but I also didn't expect to see so many negative reviews mentioning analogue issues. Too bad.
Naming conventions are their greatest strength...how about "The Xbox"? Not be be confused with "Xbox" (the original) or "Xbox One" (their third console). I'm feeling "The Xbox".
@Millionski I don't think the gameplay is too dated. Skyrim streamlined several systems, for example not needing to repair armor and weapons (which existed in Oblivion), but the gameplay is still very similar. I'd argue it has aged way better than Morrowind too, so a remaster/remake wouldn't need to make many adjustments to appeal to the modern Bethesda audience.
@Kaloudz It's amazing that they made awesome games like Outbreak, awesome modes like Mercenaries and Raid Mode, and now seem completely lost on how to implement engaging multiplayer into an RE game ๐
I'm happy for this studio and the devs for sure, and I'm cautiously optimistic for the third entry. The second game has a lot of positives for sure, but also has a lot of core issues that likely won't be addressed, so here's hoping the third game outpaces it in every way.
I'm not happy with any of the current-gen console UI, really. All personalization and charm is gone in favor of ads and lifeless blocks and basic themes. Xbox barely edges out the competition with the ability to still use a variety of background images/themes, but even those are a downgrade from 360 days.
@Kaloudz Sigma vs Black is like Quantity vs Quality. Sigma does add some content, but it removed and changed other parts of the game in the process. Black is more refined and most will agree that between the two, Black is the optimal experience.
If Halo Studios actually ports Halo 5 to PC after all of this time (and after the oft-forgotten Halo 5 Forge Mode on Windows Store), they will have truly reached the point of desperation ๐ ...that being said it would be cool to have it on Steam nonetheless. The multiplayer is truly good, albeit a little overwhelming at first with all of the available weapons.
If you have access to Steam, you should absolutely get it there before the delist. With Steam workshop, not only do you get access to neat fan mods to Genesis games but uh...also...yo ho ho, and so forth ๐ ๐ดโโ ๏ธ
It's extremely minimalist ๐ It is pretty sad for sure, even though I have less nostalgia for the final 360 dashboard over the blades or the intermediate one that replaced blades. Silver lining, there are no ads littering the screen ๐
I only got the Series S because my OG Xbox One was struggling to load games quickly, and trading it in ended up paying off half of a Series S which could run Halo Infinite at 60 FPS (versus the struggling 30 FPS Xbone lol). I'm happy enough with it, though it'll be my last Xbox for sure. Next year I'll build a new gaming PC to handle new releases moving forward.
This is a really fun feature for sure! After each match I changed to a different armor core so I could watch each one in action. Safe to say I'll probably be using Yorai more now ๐
I'm squinting to find why this keeps being referred to as "Silent Hill-like" ๐ค The gameplay and setting are very much their own thing. Definitely one I'll play down the line but sadly at launch $60 is a bit steep. Too many games lately!
This was a fun romp that I played alongside Dead Rising 3 when I finally got an Xbone. The dialogue and NPC designs can be downright annoying, but the gameplay mechanics more than make up for it. One of the few times world traversal is a lot of fun without any type of vehicle or superpower (even though it can be argued the looney toons physics are a form of superpower ๐ค).
Went ahead and threw in my cap to the Yes pile, despite buying it on Steam. Loving it so far, I get to re-experience one of my all-time favorite games and the QOL is very nice ๐๐งโโ๏ธ Also without saying too much, Infinity Mode also made some great adjustments to make each run interesting!
It's definitely misleading that they don't list these specs separately, I had to go back to ol Google to reference the Series S performance when I found out my PC is a little below-spec to reliably play the Steam version. I was also upset that Xbox/PS5 list Space Marine 2 at 70 while it's 60 on Steam, but that's its own can of worms ๐
@Markatron84 Oi! SA2 isn't TERRIBLE, at least the majority of the Sonic and Shadow levels are okay. Plus the Chao garden is an improvement! But yeah, rest of the game is rough for sure...๐
Thanks for the review! Saved me from picking up a hard copy knowing the game requires Internet for solo/bot matches. So sick of this practice, now the ability to play the game is tied to the player count ๐
I'll make some final decisions on Sunday, but as a whole I think I have what I wanted for the most part. My current objective is downloading all of the E3 montage trailers between 2007-2011 or however many are on there.
I'm glad they're at least acknowledging the blades with this background. It was a pipe dream to expect it to have any classic functionality ๐ฎโ๐จ The current console gen really lost their way with good UI.
I used to just renew Game Pass the few times a year they'd offer 3 months for $1. Now that they don't do that anymore for existing users, I only renew GP for a month to try out a new game or two that gets added that I may not want to buy immediately. As it stands, I'll renew for a month in November for MS Flight Sim 2024.
Comments 218
Re: Developer Reveals Surprisingly Critical Feedback After Launching On Xbox Game Pass
@Lup Your pfp is too fitting here, I was literally about to mention how he still makes for a fun God of War sequence, then I saw your pic ๐
Re: Developer Reveals Surprisingly Critical Feedback After Launching On Xbox Game Pass
@dskatter Reminds me of when Netflix and Redbox killed Blockbuster, then Netflix killed Redbox, and now major retailers are ditching Blu-Rays and DVDs because subscription services are everywhere. The cycle repeats, and yet people are quick to blame the product and/or the development teams ๐ค
Re: Halo 3 The Name Of The Game In New 'Operation: Legacy' Event For Halo Infinite
I jumped back in with friends last night after a long break from Infinite and we had a blast! The remade Halo 3 maps are meticulously crafted and feel great to play all of these years later.
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade The Xbox Games Showcase 2025?
The pacing was great but the reveals weren't that exciting at all. The Game Freak game probably being the unexpected highlight. E from me. I'm officially sick of steampunk shooters.
Re: Xbox Copilot Now Live For Testing As Microsoft Introduces Its AI Companion
Oh this is going through the Xbox App? Uninstalling right now, appreciate the heads-up!
Re: Xbox Insiders Can Now Remove Tiles On The Dashboard, And It Looks Weird
It's a slight improvement, sure. But clearly we all wanted to use this to remove those GIANT tiles below the game ones ๐
Re: Square Enix Doubles Down On Plans To Release More Xbox Games
@Browntrouser Adorable! I got Aussies myself ๐พ
Re: Square Enix Doubles Down On Plans To Release More Xbox Games
@Browntrouser You're definitely an animal, a frenchie by the looks of it! ๐ That yours?
Re: Talking Point: It's Been 20 Years Since Xbox 360 Was Revealed Live On MTV
Of course it kicks off with Feel Good Inc and Somebody Told Me. Really pulls you into the era this aired in. Is this sadness? Nostalgia? I'm feeling a lot of feelings right now ๐ญ
Re: Gears Of War: Reloaded Is Getting The Free Upgrade Treatment On Xbox
@ElkinFencer10 Reminds me of what they pulled with GoldenEye for digital Rare Replay owners. Couldn't bother to patch the game to properly insert it, so make it some weird separate deal.
Re: Gears Of War: Reloaded Is Getting The Free Upgrade Treatment On Xbox
Awesome! I went from skeptical to supportive immediately ๐คฃ
Re: Poll: What Are Your First Impressions Of Oblivion Remastered?
Loving it so far, they really knocked this out of the park with the little QOL improvements but retaining the jank. Can't speak for series performance since I'm playing via Steam.
Re: Retro Fighters Returns With A Brand-New Wireless Xbox 360 Controller In 2025
@old-dad Would be good to know! I have a Retro Fighters controller for PS3 and sadly it has some weird issues with the analogue sensitivity, so if that issue doesn't exist with this model I'll consider it!
Re: Retro Fighters Returns With A Brand-New Wireless Xbox 360 Controller In 2025
It's definitely very 360-like. My main concern is those triggers, the triggers on 360 have a very specific feel, and the Retro Fighters triggers look like they'll feel very different (almost more Xbox One in appearance) ๐
Re: Nightdive Wants To Know Which Xbox 360 Games Need A Remaster
@redgrave0 Had to shout out your awesome pfp (and username for that matter)! I read the DMC novel several times over, and still have my original copy on the shelf๐ฅ
Re: Nightdive Wants To Know Which Xbox 360 Games Need A Remaster
I'm glad Tenchu Z was mentioned in one of those posts, it needs mentioned more. Please, Tenchu Z! ๐ฅฒ
Re: Talking Point: How Excited Are You For A Potential Oblivion Remake This Month?
Easily my favorite Elder Scrolls, this would be huge if true!
Re: Amazon Adds 'Frequently Returned Item' Warning To Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller
Today I saw a listing for a refurb Elite Series 2 for $50 at a local electronics store, case accessories and all! Almost jumped out the door, but then did some research and saw many mentioning analogue drift after less than 2 months of usage. I didn't expect them to use hall effect or anything, but I also didn't expect to see so many negative reviews mentioning analogue issues. Too bad.
Re: Talking Point: What Should Microsoft Call The '2027' Xbox Console & Handheld?
Naming conventions are their greatest strength...how about "The Xbox"? Not be be confused with "Xbox" (the original) or "Xbox One" (their third console). I'm feeling "The Xbox".
Re: Bethesda's Rumoured Elder Scrolls IV Remake Could Shadow Drop On Xbox, It's Claimed
@Millionski I don't think the gameplay is too dated. Skyrim streamlined several systems, for example not needing to repair armor and weapons (which existed in Oblivion), but the gameplay is still very similar. I'd argue it has aged way better than Morrowind too, so a remaster/remake wouldn't need to make many adjustments to appeal to the modern Bethesda audience.
Re: Two Xbox Games Are Shutting Down Their Servers In March & April 2025
@Kaloudz It's amazing that they made awesome games like Outbreak, awesome modes like Mercenaries and Raid Mode, and now seem completely lost on how to implement engaging multiplayer into an RE game ๐
Re: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 Announced Following 'Transformative' Success Of SM2
I'm happy for this studio and the devs for sure, and I'm cautiously optimistic for the third entry. The second game has a lot of positives for sure, but also has a lot of core issues that likely won't be addressed, so here's hoping the third game outpaces it in every way.
Re: Talking Point: Are You Happy With The Current Xbox UI As It Stands In 2025?
I'm not happy with any of the current-gen console UI, really. All personalization and charm is gone in favor of ads and lifeless blocks and basic themes. Xbox barely edges out the competition with the ability to still use a variety of background images/themes, but even those are a downgrade from 360 days.
Re: Deals: All 20+ Backwards Compatible Games In The Xbox Lunar New Year Sale 2025
@Kaloudz Sigma vs Black is like Quantity vs Quality. Sigma does add some content, but it removed and changed other parts of the game in the process. Black is more refined and most will agree that between the two, Black is the optimal experience.
Re: Lenovo Accidentally Raises Hopes Of A Halo 5 PC Release
If Halo Studios actually ports Halo 5 to PC after all of this time (and after the oft-forgotten Halo 5 Forge Mode on Windows Store), they will have truly reached the point of desperation ๐ ...that being said it would be cool to have it on Steam nonetheless. The multiplayer is truly good, albeit a little overwhelming at first with all of the available weapons.
Re: Special Edition OG Xbox 'S' Controller Unveiled By Accessory Maker Hyperkin
I still have their "The Duke" edition. Such a cool (and goofy) controller design, and still my preferred way to play Halo CE and 2 ๐
Re: Xbox Reporter Says That Microsoft 'Won't Have Exclusives Going Forward'
So it's business as usual then? They haven't really had exclusives since early Xbox One with everything ported to at least PC ๐ค
Re: Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Offline Mode Arrives Alongside Deep Discount On Xbox
@RentedPanda You have to grind to get each individual character post-story, unfortunately.
Re: Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Offline Mode Arrives Alongside Deep Discount On Xbox
I was starting to doubt they'd deliver on that promise, so this is a great shadow drop!
Re: SEGA Genesis Collection Gets Huge Xbox Discount Ahead Of This Week's Delisting
If you have access to Steam, you should absolutely get it there before the delist. With Steam workshop, not only do you get access to neat fan mods to Genesis games but uh...also...yo ho ho, and so forth ๐ ๐ดโโ ๏ธ
Re: Random: Xbox 360 Users Say Dashboard Has Been 'Destroyed', But It's Not As Bad As It Seems
It's extremely minimalist ๐ It is pretty sad for sure, even though I have less nostalgia for the final 360 dashboard over the blades or the intermediate one that replaced blades. Silver lining, there are no ads littering the screen ๐
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (November 16-17)
I've finally completed Yakuza Like a Dragon, so onwards to Like a Dragon Gaiden (so far it's incredible)!
Re: Soapbox: Four Years On, I'm Already Nostalgic For The Early Xbox Series X|S Era
I only got the Series S because my OG Xbox One was struggling to load games quickly, and trading it in ended up paying off half of a Series S which could run Halo Infinite at 60 FPS (versus the struggling 30 FPS Xbone lol). I'm happy enough with it, though it'll be my last Xbox for sure. Next year I'll build a new gaming PC to handle new releases moving forward.
Re: PSA: Our Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Review Will Be Delayed At Launch
Looking forward to this one! 2020 was the first MS Flight Sim I've played and I was blown away. So much so that I opted to just buy it outright instead of renewing Game Pass just to play it more.
@Markatron84 Apparently it'll be a little more manageable: https://www.purexbox.com/news/2024/09/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024-will-have-drastically-lower-install-sizes
Re: Halo Infinite's New Third-Person Mode Seems To Be Going Down Well On Xbox
This is a really fun feature for sure! After each match I changed to a different armor core so I could watch each one in action. Safe to say I'll probably be using Yorai more now ๐
Re: Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Say About Xbox Horror Title 'Slitterhead'
@Siambretta Ah, thanks for the catch! Only link I saw earlier was 60, so good to know!
Re: Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Say About Xbox Horror Title 'Slitterhead'
I'm squinting to find why this keeps being referred to as "Silent Hill-like" ๐ค The gameplay and setting are very much their own thing. Definitely one I'll play down the line but sadly at launch $60 is a bit steep. Too many games lately!
Re: Talking Point: Xbox Released One Of Its Best-Ever Exclusives 10 Years Ago Today
This was a fun romp that I played alongside Dead Rising 3 when I finally got an Xbone. The dialogue and NPC designs can be downright annoying, but the gameplay mechanics more than make up for it. One of the few times world traversal is a lot of fun without any type of vehicle or superpower (even though it can be argued the looney toons physics are a form of superpower ๐ค).
Re: Poll: Did You End Up Buying The Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster For Xbox?
Went ahead and threw in my cap to the Yes pile, despite buying it on Steam. Loving it so far, I get to re-experience one of my all-time favorite games and the QOL is very nice ๐๐งโโ๏ธ Also without saying too much, Infinity Mode also made some great adjustments to make each run interesting!
Re: Space Marine 2 Player Claims Xbox Is 'Misleading' Series S Owners With Incorrect Info
It's definitely misleading that they don't list these specs separately, I had to go back to ol Google to reference the Series S performance when I found out my PC is a little below-spec to reliably play the Steam version. I was also upset that Xbox/PS5 list Space Marine 2 at 70 while it's 60 on Steam, but that's its own can of worms ๐
Re: Review: Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (Xbox) - Capcom Classic Gets No-Frills Upgrade
@user0 You're looking for Dead Rising 4 ๐
Re: Xbox's New 'Sonic Legacy Bundle' Includes A Recently Delisted Classic
@Markatron84 Ditto ๐ Hey, SA made me a Sonic fan in the first place, so at least we have a common interest!
Re: Xbox's New 'Sonic Legacy Bundle' Includes A Recently Delisted Classic
@Markatron84 Oh I know. I'm a SA/DX enjoyer, had to get a jab in ๐
Re: Xbox's New 'Sonic Legacy Bundle' Includes A Recently Delisted Classic
@Markatron84 Oi! SA2 isn't TERRIBLE, at least the majority of the Sonic and Shadow levels are okay. Plus the Chao garden is an improvement! But yeah, rest of the game is rough for sure...๐
Re: Review: Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions (Xbox) - An Enjoyable And Surprisingly In-Depth Sports Game
Thanks for the review! Saved me from picking up a hard copy knowing the game requires Internet for solo/bot matches. So sick of this practice, now the ability to play the game is tied to the player count ๐
Re: Xbox 360 Store Completely Removed From Console Dashboard After Shutdown
I can hear the wind blowing through that empty space...๐
Re: Last Orders! What Are You Getting Before The Xbox 360 Store Closes?
I'll make some final decisions on Sunday, but as a whole I think I have what I wanted for the most part. My current objective is downloading all of the E3 montage trailers between 2007-2011 or however many are on there.
Re: Three More Xbox 360 Games Get Discounts Ahead Of Next Week's Store Closure
What a nice surprise! And here I was deciding whether or not to buy Samurai VS since I have yet to beat the first game. Done deal!
Re: Microsoft Releases Dynamic 'Blades' Background To Mark Xbox 360 Store Closure
I'm glad they're at least acknowledging the blades with this background. It was a pipe dream to expect it to have any classic functionality ๐ฎโ๐จ The current console gen really lost their way with good UI.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Gets Price Increases And New 'Standard' Subscription Tier
I used to just renew Game Pass the few times a year they'd offer 3 months for $1. Now that they don't do that anymore for existing users, I only renew GP for a month to try out a new game or two that gets added that I may not want to buy immediately. As it stands, I'll renew for a month in November for MS Flight Sim 2024.