Comments 101

Re: Xbox Has Another Potential GOTY Candidate On Its Hands, Even Though It's Just DLC

Jean_McClane

Of all the Doom games, the only one I never managed to finish was Doom Eternal.

Dark Ages was great for so many reasons, even if it leaned a bit too much into that Serious Sam vibe for my taste.

I’m genuinely excited for the new Wolfenstein game. I loved every single one of them - no exceptions - and finished them multiple times.

I’d love to see some spin‑offs, like the old Doom RPG mobile games. Man, I had such a blast with those. Jupiter Hell really scratches that itch. Just craving for something similar from iD.

Re: Here's The New Lineup Of Xbox Game Studios For July 2026 Onwards

Jean_McClane

I can’t help feeling worried for the people still working at Xbox. It must be an incredibly stressful and toxic time for anyone trying to create and develop new games there.

I wouldn’t be surprised if quiet quitting starts happening soon, with some great talents eventually leaving Xbox for good.

I have said a few times business is business. This time it looks more like a slaughterhouse...

Re: Xbox's State Of Decay 3 Studio Could Be In Trouble Right Now

Jean_McClane

@oopsiezz you have some fair points. One remark about hardware sales: they drop after companies announce their new generation of consoles (Nintendo was there just before the Switch 2).

I believe MS alone is not the evil one here; every major brand is, including our beloved Steam (which is one of the reasons I'm shifting to GOG for PC games).

One last point: until proven wrong, I believe most of us won't stop playing games because of what has been happening in the industry over the last few years.

That said, WE are part of the problem too.

Re: Xbox's State Of Decay 3 Studio Could Be In Trouble Right Now

Jean_McClane

Nintendo raised prices - people complained and kept buying.

Sony did the same with subscriptions and cut off movie access - nobody left.

Valve changed their terms so we license games instead of owning them - we’re still there.

Xbox is doing the exact same thing, and no one is quitting the ecosystem.

Let's stop romanticizing; it's just business. You either turn a profit or you close up shop. It’s incredibly sad when studios don't make it - often due to mismanagement - and people have to look for new jobs. But from a business perspective, it isn't wrong.

If you're bitten by a venomous snake, you cut deep to stay alive. That's the law of the jungle

Re: Report: Multiple Xbox Studios In 'Active Negotiations' With Microsoft To Avoid Closure

Jean_McClane

Hi @Stocksy I agree with you on so many levels, and thanks for constructively sharing your thoughts.

Curiously, I have Brual Legend, Psychonauts 1 and 2, the original and remaster of Full Throttle, Broken Age, Costume Quest 1 e 2, Grim Fandango, both original and remaster. I love Double Fine, I just believe their games haven't been profitable over the years.

I'm 53 and I prefer shorter and meaningful experiences - such as Mouthwashing and Threshold (both on PC) - than bloated GaaS such as AC Shadows, for example, so hopefully these studios will find a way to survive and even get back stronger after the layoffs

Re: Report: Multiple Xbox Studios In 'Active Negotiations' With Microsoft To Avoid Closure

Jean_McClane

As heartbreaking as it is, it makes me wonder how many games from these studios we've actually bought or finished.

​The first Senua was good, but I haven't finished the second and probably never will. Same with Keeper: it feels more like a short movie than a game. At the end of the day, if players aren't engaging and games aren't profitable... well, business is business. Besides, I didn't even buy them - I played them on Game Pass, so I can't really say I supported the studios.

​I truly feel for the developers and hope they bounce back. But we need to stop romanticizing this industry. It’s business. If you don't perform at your job, you get let go or replaced, regardless of how creative or nice you are.

Tom Hall was forced out from iD Software during the development of Doom, then Romero and later Carmack and I'm pretty sure that didn't stop any of us from playing Doom and Quake. That's just capitalism.

Re: Talking Point: One Year Later, What Do You Think Of DOOM: The Dark Ages?

Jean_McClane

I'd pick Doom 3 over any of the last 3 games - not a huge fan of the "arcade doom trilogy". I finished Doom 2016, Eternal I didn't bother getting to the end because of the rock, paper, scissors mechanics. It was a huge let down to me, at least.

Doom "The Serious Sam Ages" added way too many elements and became something that's not Doom. I loved the story and lore but overall, it was a bit too much

Re: 'The Results Ain't Pretty' - Oblivion Remastered Analysis Claims It's 'Still Broken' After One Year

Jean_McClane

Yes, the Oblivion remake is beyond broken. I came across two quest-breaking bugs in two separate unfinished playthroughs, and I gave up on it.

I won't touch any games from Bethesda anytime soon. Over 50 hours were wasted because of their incompetence in fixing something I paid for.
After several attempts, their answer was, 'You will have to start another (another!) playthrough.' With all due respect: screw 'em.

Studios should be held accountable for broken products and issue full refunds if it's proven we cannot finish what we started

Re: Xbox's Asha Sharma Speaks On Camera For First Time As Microsoft Gaming CEO

Jean_McClane

I still believe in the XBOX ecosystem and am looking forward to what comes next in terms of games, game pass, and hardware.

One feature I've been using a lot is the xCloud and I still don't understand why they don't advertise it more. In Ireland at least, there is no queue at all, and being able to play games such as Arc Raiders through my Quest 3 or Steam Deck is mind blowing.

Re: New Xbox First-Party Game Announced In The Form Of Minecraft Dungeons 2

Jean_McClane

I played the first MD for dozens of hours with my little daughter, and funnily enough, that’s how I introduced her to teamwork, light strategy, managing her anxiety and low self‑esteem, and even using the game as a doorway into her social life with friends and school.

We finished the main game and some of the DLCs + and played A LOT of the tower mode. It's not Diablo but a very honest light ARPG and definitely my best couch co‑op experience ever!

Re: Phil Spencer Announces That He's Retiring From Xbox

Jean_McClane

Xbox will cease their hardware strategy and become the new SEGA:
"Rest assured we'll provide long term support to all of you who own a XBOX".

2 years later: "unfortunately we'll have to discontinue Gamepass and start shutting down online services gradually. Thanks for all your support"

Re: Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora Third-Person Looks Cool, But A Little Janky

Jean_McClane

I started playing this game over a year ago and thought "that would look and play so much better if it was a 3rd person game...". Dropped it and now, I'll definitely sink some good hours into it.

I didn't find the animations janky. They are not supposed to move like humans after all so I'm more than happy to give it a 2nd chance.

Nowadays, people (and critics) are judging before even trying, just to ensure they have news first... sigh

Re: Review: Evil West - Action-Packed Wild West Horror Let Down By Dull Design And Weak Narrative

Jean_McClane

I gave Evil West a go yesterday for about an hour, and it’s just not for me. Nothing against the old-school approach - it has its charm - but it’s hard to invest time in it when there are so many other great options out there that at least try to shake things up, even if they’re not reinventing the wheel.

Games like Vanquish and Bayonetta still hold up well, despite being from the Xbox 360 era.

Re: Here's Your First Look At Extended Battlefield 6 Single-Player Gameplay

Jean_McClane

I broke my own rules and pre-ordered BF6 after the two open betas. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun — even knowing it wasn’t the final build and that they’d be tweaking things over the coming months.

I get that both franchises have their audiences, but there’s just been way too much COD lately, and not all of it has been enjoyable. The frantic pace and those colourful skins — which feel more suited to Fortnite — just aren’t for me.

Clock is ticking...

Re: Opinion: Far Cry Should Double Down On What Made It Great, Not Become Another Live Service

Jean_McClane

@Lup I'm with you. I genuinely don’t get the love for Far Cry 3 and its QTE-heavy boss fights. Sure, it was a solid leap forward from FC2 in terms of graphics and gameplay mechanics, but that’s where it ends for me.

Personally, Far Cry 5 is the standout. Some argue its landscape isn’t the most varied, and that’s a fair critique. But the story? Provocative, unsettling in all the right ways, and layered with themes that hit harder than expected. The main antagonist was incredibly charismatic, with motivations that felt deeper and more compelling than any other in the series. And that ending - hands down the best in the franchise. What really sealed it for me were the side characters and companions. I actually cared about them, and their side quests were some of the most creative and memorable I’ve played

Re: Stalker 2 Is Getting An Engine Overhaul This Year On Xbox Game Pass

Jean_McClane

I tried so hard to love this game (played over 30hrs on the XBOX X) but it's just like a toxic relationship: you try to justify their actions and mistakes, but in the end you just get frustrated and end up regretting the time you spent together.

Maybe I'll come back to it in a few years when they release the GOTY ultimate and revised edition. Maybe.