@SeaDaVie Why? The Initiative haven’t had the chance to release a game yet, so they could have been worth saving. This looks bad on Microsoft because they crated this studio, only to shut it down without having a game release yet.
I highly doubt this is signaling Sony making a shift. They have no incentive to supply their competitors with their products - though I wouldn’t necessarily classify Nintendo and Microsoft as competitors for various reasons. In fact, Sony doesn’t own Arrowhead studios, and Arrowhead themselves recently stated they are going to remain independent. I think this is more of a case of attracting more players to their live service game, which this genre is better suited to be multi-platform. Moreover, Arrowhead also mentioned that their next game wasn’t going to be purely on PlayStation. I think this is much ado about nothing. With that said, I’m very happy to see Xbox players get a chance to play this game. Hopefully, consumers will support this title with their wallets.
Good news for Xbox for a change! Hopefully, consumers will support this product because it’s worth all the money. They have been clambering for this so I hope they speak with their wallets.
@BAMozzy Yeah, I’m not going to spin this situation into a positive. They could be leaving on their own free will, or they could be getting fired, but either way, it’s not a good sign when the news breaks during massive layoffs. I appreciate your long and informed responses, but what is happening right now - layoffs, Perfect Dark and other projects being canceled, 70 people from the Forza Motorsport team being let go - none of this is good.
I understand your sentiment - not all people being let go are essential, and they may find new role(s) within the company or elsewhere, but that doesn’t matter. The fact is, Microsoft has poor management. It has been that way for years. They are constantly changing their stance, they don’t have an identity, and they don’t know what they want to do. Their opinions change every month.
And the fact that you said, “If the restructuring means that the entire Xbox division, its Publishing, its R&D, Its PR, its Advertising and its studios are now better Organised, better supported and far more efficient and delivering Products and services to their Customers, the Gamers, then I'm sorry to hear of the losses but it's for the long term best -its ensuring their Customers stay happy and spending money and still making money for their Shareholders...”, particularly ensuring customers stay happy and spend money is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. I agree with a lot of your points throughout various articles, but hardly any customers of the Xbox brand are happy. And spending money? On what? They don’t market their games. In fact, they barely market Game Pass. In terms of Xbox, the only money they are truly making is from people buying their games on PlayStation because lord knows they aren’t selling consoles and games on their own platform.
And organization? You can’t even put Xbox and organized in the same sentence. They haven’t been organized since the second year of Xbox One. They have done nothing but come up with empty promises year after year. And when they might fulfill what they said, “The games are coming”, which took essentially 12-13 years to happen, most of them are now getting canceled and/or not received that well aside from a select few. They are not good at management or organization.
Again, try to spin that any which way you want. None of this is good. Xbox does not know who they are or what their strategy is. Goodbye to Perfect Dark and The Initiative; I won’t be surprised if Fable, or Clockwork Revolution is next.
It just keeps getting worse and worse. While we don’t know if they are being let go, or leaving on their own accord, this entire situation is a disaster.
This is ridiculous. Perfect Dark looked incredible. Moreover, it looked like it was in a playable state and could be released soon. At this point, I don’t want to hear any excuses any longer - this is becoming inexcusable, and it’s poor management from the top down. If I’m being honest, Microsoft - and by Microsoft I mean the Xbox brand itself - needs to do a complete restructure with their staff, particularly management.
Clair Obscur is my #1. In fact, it’s probably my favorite game this generation, and easily a top 10 of all time. It’s a game I’m proud I got all trophies/achievements for.
On another note - I got all trophies/achievements for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Oblivion. All three of those games were excellent.
I’ve yet to play Split Fiction, and I probably never will since it’s co-op centric and I tend to play by myself. I can see its greatness, though. I would like to eventually play Mullet MadJack - that looks like a fun game.
Let’s buy studios and then lay tons of those people off, or close down the studios altogether.
To be fair, letting people go is common in any business, but it’s how Microsoft goes about nearly all of their decisions. And let’s not forget Phil Spencer - I just can’t trust what this man says.
I agree wholeheartedly. Xbox has shifted their identity a handful of times this generation alone, and they have lost the essence of who they are as a brand. Moreover, they have misled their audience and consumers by doing just as much. Sometimes, it feels as if their priorities change every week. This is not good for business, and it shows.
@BAMozzy You make a very valid point. I look at it in a more simplified way.
1) Their games, most of which were meant to be exclusive, are not selling. This is why they push Game Pass so much, but it doesn’t seem to be beneficial for them, therefore they have to release their games on other platforms.
2) As a result, even though they may not be leaving the console business, they are becoming a third party publisher in the same vein as Sega, regardless of new consoles or not.
I truly believe if they would have marketed their “exclusives” properly, and had a regular cadence of releases dating back from the second year of Xbox One, then this situation wouldn’t be happening at all, and by that I mean their games coming to PlayStation. PC was always a given in my opinion - that’s how they touted their OG Xbox from the start.
I unfortunately have to agree with her sentiments as well. As a brand, and to drive hardware sales and exclusives to drive people to the console, it has failed immensely. As a publisher, however, they are currently the biggest in the industry. Microsoft is going the SEGA route which is a smart move, but they really need to work on their marketing.
1) Clair Obscur Expedition 33 2) Doom: The Dark Ages 3) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
I got every trophy/achievement for all of these games, and that’s a testament to how special I think each one is. It has been a fantastic year of gaming, and I’ve yet to play some of the other popular titles released this year, such as Atomfall, Avowed, South of Midnight, and a few others.
I beat and got the platinum trophy for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for PS5. It was your classic Bethesda game, and a special experience. I haven’t tackled the Shivering Isles DLC yet - I’m setting it to the side because I want to play other games.
My attention is now all on Death Stranding 2. I’m only four hours in but it’s been great so far. The gameplay mechanics are refined, and feel more like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in terms of movement, sound, and gunplay.
I like how there is a more emphasis on stealth combat. There have been numerous situations so far where I’m on the edge of my seat due to nerves combating my way through bandit camps, treacherous weather, and the terrain itself. It’s a perfect blend of environment story telling in a unique way. I also feel a sense of obligation to find lost cargo to deliver to other settlements despite the risky nature. It creates a real sense of urgency, but also forces you to be patient - until you can’t.
There was one instance where I had to make a delivery to a Chiral network, but it was pouring down rain. The rivers began to rise, and there were bandits surrounding me, but unaware of my presence. All the while the rain itself was damaging my cargo, almost forcing me to beeline my way straight to the objective. I offloaded my equipment, hiding it in tall grass so the enemies couldn’t see me carrying so much and alert nearby guards.
I systematically eliminated all enemies without being discovered, but my cargo eventually became damaged. I began scouring the area for container repair spray and found a handful of them, but even more importantly, I found a hidden vehicle. I quickly got inside, drove to my packages, loaded them into the bed of the truck, and carefully crossed the river. Once I reached my destination, I repaired all containers and delivered them safe and sound.
This moment-to-moment gameplay — a free sandbox to operate in — was really fun. It was essentially solving a puzzle that I could have optionally ignored, but with high risk there is a high reward. It’s these types of situations where MGSV: TPP shined immensely, and DS2 has evolved that process in peak form. I can’t wait to see how much more it expands as time goes on.
@rhyno_888 I have to agree, and this is the danger of putting a game on a subscription service instead of promoting it for people to buy. In my humble opinion, this is my biggest issue with Game Pass. It is absolutely fantastic for the consumer, but it has ripple effects across the industry that are negative.
Honestly, you have to have a certified banger on your hands to have success outside of Game Pass. Clair Obscur, arguably GOTY, made 3.3 million dollars in 3 weeks, and it’s higher now no question. However, how many of those sales are from Xbox players? If that game was an Xbox exclusive and day one on Game Pass, that studio would most likely be shut down despite the critical success it has received. The fact is, any developer/studio would tell you they would rather make a $60-80.00 sale outright then someone paying $20.00 for a subscription service with the hope — not guarantee — that audiences will play their game, and then make less money of that percentage.
As I said, as a consumer, Game Pass is awesome, but it’s not good for everyone else involved. This is why I prefer buying my games, whether it be on my PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.
I’m still questing, exploring caves, tackling dungeons, killing trolls, and making my way to the platinum trophy in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Hopefully, I’ll have it wrapped up in time for Death Stranding 2, but I doubt it, and that’s okay because I love this world of Cyrodiil.
It’s hard for me to get excited about any kind of new console from Xbox. I personally do not care about how much of a leap next gen will be, and the power of the console - we hear that every time from Microsoft. To me, it’s all about games. Are you going to have a steady cadence of AAA games, interspersed with AA/indie games? If so, what is separating you from PS since those games will ultimately be on that console? If it’s Game Pass, and having that subscription across multiple devices - Play Anywhere - how confident are they that developers will want to release their games on that platform?
At the end of the day, GP is great for the consumer, but a detriment to the studios. I guarantee if you ask them, they would all say that they would prefer to make $60-80.00 per game rather than $20.00 or whatever the price is for the subscription service, and not have a guarantee it will find an audience. Look at PS - people are still happy paying for games, and owning them. Look at Clair Obscur, with 3.3 million copies sold (probably more at this point). How many of those copies do you think were on Xbox? Not many, I assume.
I don’t want to speak poorly on Xbox/Microsoft - I love my Series X and it’s a great consumer product if you have GP, but there is a reason why they are releasing their games on PS. If they had a strong AAA exclusive library of games that sold well, I highly doubt Microsoft would be in the situation that they are in now.
This sounds like awesome news, but it’s a wait and see for me. Prior to this generation of console releases, I chose to purchase a Series X rather than PS5 first (I was always going to get both). I was excited about the Bethesda acquisitions and other studios. And then the promise that Microsoft always makes - the games are coming - never came to fruition, until this year. By this point, most of, if not all the games I’m interested in from Microsoft is playable on the PS5, or will be. In my humble opinion, 2022 was an incredible year for Game Pass and I was blown away by the content. It was my main source of gaming from a console standpoint. And then it disappeared. I would love for this new iteration to be something to genuinely look forward to, but I can wait for PS5/6 versions (I also prefer the trophy system over achievements). Moreover, it’s becoming more and more likely that first party Xbox games are becoming day-and-day on console releases. All of that being said, I am enjoying the content Game Pass is delivering this year. If this remains steady and consistent, it might become my go-to choice for gaming, but that’s the key - consistency (and also genuine marketing).
I’m glad to see the game reviewing well, but it’s sadly not for me. I was surprised to see this be the next game after Sifu — and hopefully they will return to that universe sometime.
Wuchang will probably be a game I download. It looks pretty good. I haven’t turned my Series X on since STALKER 2 (one of my favorite games this generation), so I have a pretty strong lineup of backlog games on Game Pass. I’ll probably dive into all of them once I beat Death Stranding 2 after it releases.
I haven’t had much time to play games this week, let alone this weekend. Whatever free time I do have I will be spending it in the world of Cyrodiil in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
I always find Bethesda RPGs interesting because I tend to forget how they are meant to be played, and it’s incredibly easy to become overwhelmed. I never know if I should immediately set out and explore, or start the main quest. And yet, the result is always the same - I wander aimlessly and complete dungeons I’m not a high enough level for, pick locks and break into homes, read random notes and journals that lead me down an interesting quest line, and stealth my way through enemies with my bow and arrow.
Somehow, after discovering towns and stumbling my way through tons of side quests, I always manage to organically start the main narrative, unsure of how I did so. I think this is the brilliance that modern Bethesda games are missing — Fallout 4 (I really enjoyed that game; got the platinum for it) and Starfield particularly. There is a certain magic to the art of discovery that will eventually lead you to where you’re meant to go even if it doesn’t appear that way initially.
With that said, there is one issue I have with the game design, albeit it’s a product of 2006. Exploring caves and dungeons are great, but it can be disheartening when at the end of the area there isn’t an exit — you have to backtrack to leave. This isn’t with every area, mind you, but it’s incredibly noticeable. Thankfully, Skyrim fixed this problem.
Other than that minor quibble, Oblivion is sublime. When it first released in 2006, I did not like the game whatsoever. My best friend was obsessed with it, and watching him play it I thought, ”Man, this looks so cool”, but it was never fun to play for me. I had the same reaction to Fallout 3. It wasn’t until Skyrim that these types of games clicked with me. Fast forward 19-years, and it has become my favorite genre. And when Bethesda does make a good game, you know it, and there is no other feeling like it.
I’ve played about two hours so far and it’s solid. It isn’t going to blow anyone’s mind, and it has its technical issues: lip synching, and some stuttering, but the driving is great. The gunplay is okay, but the sound design is off. The story actually seems pretty cool, and the voice acting, animations, and cutscenes are good. It’s probably a 6.5/10 or a 7/10 kind of game, and I’m okay with that. It was what I was expecting and I’m content.
16 is a fantastic entry in the series, and I’m glad to hear it has changed your opinion. Moreover, it’s nice seeing (anyone, really) someone give a genre a chance that they aren’t fond of.
@themightyant That is totally fair. The alarm bells are ringing, and the whole debacle with the bad previews are a result of being paid to do so is quite ridiculous. The marketing for this game from a studio standpoint - no early review copies, etc.; - do not scream confidence in their product. I can’t argue with that — the skepticism is warranted for sure.
@dskatter What makes it look horrible exactly? Maybe generic, sure, but horrible? From all the videos shown, the gunplay seems cool, the driving seems fun, and they seem to be trying to create a decent story. I’m not saying any of these things will be good, mind you, but I have yet to see anything from the videos shown that says it’s horrible.
@Dan1283 I think this mindset is what’s wrong with a lot of gaming culture today. Don’t get me wrong, I understand your point of view — early impressions of the game via YouTube channels aren’t high on the game — but from the very first showing of this game people have said this game will be “awful”, or “trash”. A lot of people don’t give games chances anymore and it’s saddening. Every Xbox showcase, PS State of Play, what-have-you is “trash” in the comment section, or portrayed as the worst showcase in history. It seems “cool” to constantly be negative on games. It’s very disheartening.
And yeah, the game could be flat out awful. It may be broken, or just discombobulated altogether. However, if the driving mechanics and gunplay are solid, I think the game will be decent. I don’t need a 8/10 kind of game. Sometimes, I’m looking for a good mindless romp similar to games from the PS3 and 360 era. This looks to be in that vein.
@Kaloudz It plays like it in terms of gunplay and violence, but that’s where the comparisons end. There are no walls to cover to—you are simply out to kill hordes of enemies in brutal fashion.
This week I managed to finish Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo. It is a game that never outstayed its welcome, and its Metroidvania and Zelda-like qualities were incredibly well done. It took me about 17 hours, with completion rate of 78%. I feel quite satiated with my experience.
Subsequently, I was perusing my back catalog of games and saw Sea of Stars. I then realized Sabotage Studios released their hefty free expansion/DLC, Throes of the Watchmaker a week or so ago, and I decided to redownload the game.
I have beaten it before, but I noticed I missed a ton of optional content. Once I booted the game back up, I was immediately drawn back into this gorgeous world, almost without missing a beat. Within a couple of hours I mopped up all side bosses and collectibles, and even got the platinum trophy for it.
It is truly an outstanding retro-inspired JRPG. And, having not played it since release, all of the patches and updates have made it an even more enjoyable experience; it is more streamlined, in a positive way. As of right now, I’m a couple of hours in the DLC and it’s been sublime. I’m really looking forward to the new classes, abilities, and story.
I’m not sure what I want to play next. I have my eye on two games: MindsEye (I honestly think it looks solid despite the hooblah) and Blades of Fire. I’m not looking for anything special - just a simple spray and pray or hack and slash. Really, I’m just biding my time until Death Stranding 2 releases.
This week(end) I got the platinum trophy for Doom: The Dark Ages. It’s truly an extraordinary FPS. My initial impression was lukewarm. I felt the essence of DOOM was absent, but the more I played the more I became enamored with what it was trying to do mechanically.
Once you get past its lengthy tutorial stages the game ramps up the significantly. You are provided a plethora of weapons and upgrades that all feel unique and fun to use. Meanwhile, exploration is rewarding and feels more confident than its predecessors.
Overall, The Dark Ages is probably my favorite out of the trilogy. With that said, I could go back and forth any day of the week because each game does something unique that makes it stand out in ways that suit my play-style. Either way, these are a fantastic set of games that are worth adding to your catalogue.
In the last two weeks, I have obtained the platinum for Doom and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is my personal GOTY. Both games are emotionally draining in their own way, so I needed to change up the pace.
That brings me to Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo (Nintendo Switch). This game rules. If you are a fan of top down Zelda-like with a dab of Metroidvania elements, this game is a must play.
As the title suggests, your main weapon is a yoyo. It’s such a great weapon that intertwines real life tricks such as Walk the Dog as learned abilities that really expand how you interact with exploration and combat. There are many variants, with a large amount of abilities I’ve yet to find, so I’m curious how the game evolves.
There are also upgrades, but they are handled in a way that is a challenge in and of itself. You’re essentially renting them until you can pay off the loan. While you are doing that, certain upgrades may take a life point away from you until you pay back the money whilst learning the skill. It’s a keen balance.
You can see the developers were inspired by classic Zelda games. There are numerous secrets to uncover, one of which is heart petals. Once you find enough of them, you gain an extra life. There are also main dungeons to progress through. They all have a unique locale, and are really fun and clever, making you utilize what an actual yoyo can do. The way these dungeons are set up, and how you’re able to interact with the environment via the yoyo, it’s fun manipulating how to dispatch your enemies.
Speaking of enemies, this game is genuinely challenging. It plays like your typical 2D action platformers, but in a top down view. Moreover, it’s not just the enemies you have to worry about, it’s the levels themselves. The game is constantly moving, making the environment just as much as a threat as the bad guys. I’ve died numerous times, but it always feels like my fault. Thankfully, the game is generous and saves your progress every new room you enter, which is often.
I’m about eight hours in total, and I’ve completed two main dungeons out of four (I believe), along with a ton of optional content. I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of this game because looking at my upgrades and abilities that I’ve yet to find, I see nothing but endless possibilities. This game is going to be special, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
I can’t wait for this. Will the game be good? Probably not. Will it be mindless fun, similar to old-school PS3/360 games? Probably. I’m going in with no expectations. Hopefully it will be a good time.
Honestly, though, this really does look fun. I have a feeling it will become a cult classic. It doesn’t look like it will do anything to reinvent the wheel, but if the controls are good — driving mechanics and gunplay — then it will be a solid game. The story seems interesting too, and I like the idea of an “infinite” open world.
It sucks that so many people are writing this game off already without giving it a chance. But hey, this is the gaming culture these days. There was similar discourse to Evil West, and that turned out to be fantastic. Idk, guys, I think this will be a good game.
The sales are well deserved, and that’s such an ironic number! Funnily enough, my wife had to go to the doctor today. I went to pick up her medicine and it literally cost $3.33. I told my wife how crazy it is but she didn’t understand. Haha.
This weekend I can happily say I beat Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and got the platinum trophy. For me personally, this game will go down as an all-time favorite. It’s peak RPG in every facet, but does it in a condensed manner that never outstays its welcome. It also features one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard in a video game. I’ve had the song Visages - Aria pour un Masque de Colere on repeat for days.
I’m now on to DOOM: The Dark Ages. The gameplay is top notch, but the tone and atmosphere feel different from its predecessors. There were shades of demonic horror in the first two games, from its enemies and environments, which told a story on its own. With this entry, everything seems more cartoonish and colorful. For a game that has Dark Ages in the title, it seems too bright in its aesthetics, and strips away the darkness of the first two games — something that would be more fitting for not only a DOOM game, but for a medieval title.
With all of that said, from a combat perspective it feels great. It plays fast and kinetic, but also feels slowed down to feel properly in control. The shield is an excellent addition to a series bolstering legendary weapons, and it never gets old throwing your saw shield at enemies and carving them to pieces. All of the weapons are fun to use, each with their own unique abilities, and the plethora of upgrades available really enhance experience.
Still, though, my only complaint is changing for the positive thus far. I’m on the 9th chapter and have a 100% completion rate for each mission. The game really hits its stride with confidence on the sixth chapter, after its tutorials. And really, these games are all about gameplay, and there aren’t many franchises that do it better than id Software. I’ll be looking forward to obtaining the platinum trophy for this one.
My wife is also having some friends staying over this weekend, so I think my father-in-law and I will bust out my Blackstone grill and cook hibachi for everyone. We haven’t done that in a while and the weather should be perfect to spend outdoors enjoying good food and even better company.
I didn’t like what I played of Starfield, which admittedly wasn’t much, but I do hope it finds a larger audience and success on PlayStation. I would like to revisit the game at some point in time and give it a fair chance.
This weekend I am finally wrapping up the platinum trophy for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I’ve completed every optional boss, all thirty-three levels of the Endless Tower, and all additional side content, so all I have left to do is reach level 99. I’m six levels away, so I’m just grinding.
Even now, after essentially 100%’ing the game, I’m even more enamored with it than I was originally. I’m having a total blast using pictos and creating new unique builds, and seeing how far I can push my damage output. I’ve beaten some end-game bosses with one hit, and it’s very satisfying.
This game is without a doubt my GOTY. It has been expertly paced from start to finish. The story is deep and impactful, every character is fully developed and interesting, exploration is rewarding, and it’s a masterclass in roleplaying. Typically, the longer you play a game the more you begin to see its flaws, but not here - I might just consider it the perfect JRPG.
Once I wrap that up, I’ll officially start DOOM: The Dark Ages. I’ve been attempting to go into it as blind as possible, but I’ve read a few reviews that say it plays similarly to the 2016 reboot. I hope this is true because as much as I love Eternal and its relentless nature, I liked the slower pace - well, slower for DOOM standards - and the weapons better.
@deadmaker Yeah, I’d recommend a stronger console to play this game. While it is great on the Switch, there are too many compromises. I feel like you’d get a better experience on PlayStation or Xbox. That said, I played on PS and double dipped when it came out on Switch, and it was a great experience on both!
I have racked up 200 hours in this game - an amount of time I’ve never spent on a single game in a continual manner without getting burned out. In terms of story, I’m roughly fifty percent through the main campaign. My goal is to have every side quest and trophy mopped up that doesn’t relate to main missions before I push onward to the end of the game.
In the last ten hours, my Henry has crawled in manure to search for a man, has built pyramids out of human remains, been so drunk that someone stole his shoes in the middle of the town square, helped a young man from being bullied by villagers, and went down to the depths of hell (almost literally) to stop demons from coming out of the pitts and killing livestock. It resulted in me in losing my entire clothing and weapons, and killing a man who lost his mind to darkness and his mission.
If that doesn’t sound appealing to you, just know that I’m considered to be the Dark Lord who has the nickname Sourdough. I’m quite literally the epitome of a Jack of all Trades. I’m not to be trifled with.
This weekend I’ll mainly be focusing on Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. I never played the first entry, but Warhorse posted a ten minute summary on their YouTube channel and it really helped me get a grasp on the story.
So far, I’m a couple of hours in, but I’m very impressed. The writing is absolutely top-notch, with incredible voice acting and animations that bring the characters to life. The cutscenes themselves are high quality. I don’t think I’ve ever said this about a video game before, but it has a movie-ish quality to it, from its cinematography and direction.
It might be the most immersive game I’ve ever played, with incredible RPG mechanics and dialogue choices that genuinely make me pause and think about my responses. I really can’t wait to dive deeper into this medieval adventure.
On a side note, earlier this week I finished Unicorn Overlord and got the platinum trophy. What a fantastic game, and easily my favorite Vanillaware title to date. I can’t wait to see what kind of game they follow up with.
I’ve also been on an independent horror kick. I saw through Steam that a game called Fears to Fathom: Ironbark Lookout got positive reviews. The trailer seemed interesting so I picked it up. In my opinion, it was quite mediocre. Tonally, the game was great, and it featured great atmosphere, but everything else was subpar. And the way the narrative unfolds seems to be directly ripped out of a “Let’s Not Meet” Reddit story. Nonetheless, I got the platinum and immediately uninstalled it.
I’ll also be chipping away at the Mafia Definitive Edition platinum. I’m playing on classic difficulty and currently on chapter 12/20. It’s been fantastic, but I strongly dislike the collectible system in the game. Technically, the game is considered “open world”, but you are never incentivized to explore your surroundings because the main story is structured very linearly. A lot of collectibles are story related and hard to miss, but some are inexplicably in obscure places that don’t make sense in its design, while subsequently having a “free roam” mode to have more hidden collectibles. I think it’s poorly designed and not implemented in a way that is logically sound.
This weekend I’m still playing Unicorn Overlord, and still completely enamored with it. I think I’m roughly 75% of the way to completion. My goal is to wrap up the platinum trophy within the next couple of days. The game does have you grind a bit, but thankfully you can “skip” battles — not experiencing the animations and battle scenes — and still get experience points. It helps save a ton of time because some of the battles can be time consuming, lasting anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour.
Meanwhile, I’ve set a New Year gaming resolution for myself (and trying to consistent with it) - browse the PSN, or any other digital store front where I play my games, and try out new games regardless of word of mouth or not. Doing so, I came across a game called Bloodwash. It’s a retro, PS1-era first person horror game. It’s essentially a video game form of a slasher film. I found it to be a pretty solid two hour experience and a nice palate cleanser. Moreover, I even got the platinum trophy, which I hadn’t expected.
This weekend I’ll be obsessively playing Unicorn Overlord. I bought it when it first came out and didn’t enjoy it because I wasn’t used to not actively controlling my party members in combat situations. However, the more I played the more I understood how the game operates.
It’s the sub stories within the main narrative that really gripped me, such as The Tormented Helm. It was excellent, and provided a very foreboding scene, along with great moment-to-moment character interactions and fun battle encounter. While the main story is good, it isn’t great. Essentially, it’s serviceable.
Furthermore, tinkering with your party compositions, equipment, and wandering the world - everything has a purpose. Side quests are meaningful, from a monetary perspective, along with characters being added to your party, and backstories. You get to learn more history between characters and it all feels organic. Additionally, the game is continually rewarding. There is a sense of progression even from the monotonous tasks, and creates a gameplay loop that makes you want to complete everything you stumble across.
The art style is some of the very best I’ve ever seen. Each backdrop is brimming with unique locales, from vibrant and lush forests, to shining palaces, and decrepit ruins. If there is fog or a sandstorm it is visible within the battlefield. The animations between combat, conversation and traversal are gorgeous, and with the game being almost entirely voice acted, it feels as if the stakes are higher and more emotion is seeped through to the characters.
All of that said, the game is quite overwhelming. The more you acquire party members, the more it can feel daunting when changing out equipment, leveling up certain characters that aren’t getting enough attention, unlocking more grid-base tiles and spaces on them. But that’s also the fun of it — figuring things out. And damn if it’s not satisfying when you discover a good composition of party members.
Unicorn Overlord is just incredible. It has its hooks in me. I’m thinking about this game while I’m at work, thinking of new party stratagems, managing my units with certain equipment, how I want their combat to play out with certain conditions. I’m head over heels for this game, and I don’t know why I had any doubt to begin with considering Vanillaware’s pedigree.
On a side note: I also got the platinum in Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl and Stellar Blade in the last couple of weeks.
This weekend I’ll be focusing on a NG+ run in Stellar Blade. I’m halfway through and plan on wrapping up the platinum trophy. I forgot how brilliant this game is, from its soundtrack, combat, and ambience. Meanwhile, earlier this week I completed Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl and got the platinum for that. It’s an achievement I’m quite proud of, and after playing the first game — recently starting my entry into this franchise with Stalker 2 — I can confidently say it has become one of my favorite franchises.
Edit / Update: I just got the platinum for Stellar Blade. Now I’m unsure what to play next.
Comments 794
Re: Helldivers 2 Developer Shuts Down Xbox Game Pass Rumour
@Kieduss How is it overhyped? Critics and fans love(d) it and for a good reason. It’s pure fun.
Re: Perfect Dark Actor Calls On Fans To 'Speak Up' And Help The Game Survive
@SeaDaVie Why? The Initiative haven’t had the chance to release a game yet, so they could have been worth saving. This looks bad on Microsoft because they crated this studio, only to shut it down without having a game release yet.
Re: PlayStation Is Publishing Helldivers 2 On Xbox, Signalling A Shift In Strategy From Sony
I highly doubt this is signaling Sony making a shift. They have no incentive to supply their competitors with their products - though I wouldn’t necessarily classify Nintendo and Microsoft as competitors for various reasons. In fact, Sony doesn’t own Arrowhead studios, and Arrowhead themselves recently stated they are going to remain independent. I think this is more of a case of attracting more players to their live service game, which this genre is better suited to be multi-platform. Moreover, Arrowhead also mentioned that their next game wasn’t going to be purely on PlayStation. I think this is much ado about nothing. With that said, I’m very happy to see Xbox players get a chance to play this game. Hopefully, consumers will support this title with their wallets.
Re: Helldivers 2 Is Officially Releasing For Xbox This August
Good news for Xbox for a change! Hopefully, consumers will support this product because it’s worth all the money. They have been clambering for this so I hope they speak with their wallets.
Re: Report: Multiple Industry Veterans To Leave Xbox Studios Amidst Layoffs
@BAMozzy Yeah, I’m not going to spin this situation into a positive. They could be leaving on their own free will, or they could be getting fired, but either way, it’s not a good sign when the news breaks during massive layoffs. I appreciate your long and informed responses, but what is happening right now - layoffs, Perfect Dark and other projects being canceled, 70 people from the Forza Motorsport team being let go - none of this is good.
I understand your sentiment - not all people being let go are essential, and they may find new role(s) within the company or elsewhere, but that doesn’t matter. The fact is, Microsoft has poor management. It has been that way for years. They are constantly changing their stance, they don’t have an identity, and they don’t know what they want to do. Their opinions change every month.
And the fact that you said, “If the restructuring means that the entire Xbox division, its Publishing, its R&D, Its PR, its Advertising and its studios are now better Organised, better supported and far more efficient and delivering Products and services to their Customers, the Gamers, then I'm sorry to hear of the losses but it's for the long term best -its ensuring their Customers stay happy and spending money and still making money for their Shareholders...”, particularly ensuring customers stay happy and spend money is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. I agree with a lot of your points throughout various articles, but hardly any customers of the Xbox brand are happy. And spending money? On what? They don’t market their games. In fact, they barely market Game Pass. In terms of Xbox, the only money they are truly making is from people buying their games on PlayStation because lord knows they aren’t selling consoles and games on their own platform.
And organization? You can’t even put Xbox and organized in the same sentence. They haven’t been organized since the second year of Xbox One. They have done nothing but come up with empty promises year after year. And when they might fulfill what they said, “The games are coming”, which took essentially 12-13 years to happen, most of them are now getting canceled and/or not received that well aside from a select few. They are not good at management or organization.
Again, try to spin that any which way you want. None of this is good. Xbox does not know who they are or what their strategy is. Goodbye to Perfect Dark and The Initiative; I won’t be surprised if Fable, or Clockwork Revolution is next.
Re: Multiple Industry Veterans To Leave Xbox Studios Amidst Layoffs
It just keeps getting worse and worse. While we don’t know if they are being let go, or leaving on their own accord, this entire situation is a disaster.
Re: Two More Xbox Games Are Being Cancelled, Including Perfect Dark
This is ridiculous. Perfect Dark looked incredible. Moreover, it looked like it was in a playable state and could be released soon. At this point, I don’t want to hear any excuses any longer - this is becoming inexcusable, and it’s poor management from the top down. If I’m being honest, Microsoft - and by Microsoft I mean the Xbox brand itself - needs to do a complete restructure with their staff, particularly management.
Re: After Half A Year, These Are The 10 Highest-Rated Xbox Games Of 2025
Clair Obscur is my #1. In fact, it’s probably my favorite game this generation, and easily a top 10 of all time. It’s a game I’m proud I got all trophies/achievements for.
On another note - I got all trophies/achievements for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Oblivion. All three of those games were excellent.
I’ve yet to play Split Fiction, and I probably never will since it’s co-op centric and I tend to play by myself. I can see its greatness, though. I would like to eventually play Mullet MadJack - that looks like a fun game.
Re: Xbox Layoffs Begin As Phil Spencer Shares Internal Microsoft Gaming Update
Let’s buy studios and then lay tons of those people off, or close down the studios altogether.
To be fair, letting people go is common in any business, but it’s how Microsoft goes about nearly all of their decisions. And let’s not forget Phil Spencer - I just can’t trust what this man says.
Re: Halo Studios Confirms Major Reveal To Take Place Later This Year
Pretty cool news. I’m interested in what kind of Halo they are going to make next. I’m in the camp of people that thoroughly enjoyed Infinite.
Re: Ex Blizzard Boss Thinks Microsoft Should Pick Its Xbox Strategy And 'Stick To It'
I agree wholeheartedly. Xbox has shifted their identity a handful of times this generation alone, and they have lost the essence of who they are as a brand. Moreover, they have misled their audience and consumers by doing just as much. Sometimes, it feels as if their priorities change every week. This is not good for business, and it shows.
Re: Xbox Founding Member 'Not Pleased' With State Of The Brand In 2025
@BAMozzy You make a very valid point. I look at it in a more simplified way.
1) Their games, most of which were meant to be exclusive, are not selling. This is why they push Game Pass so much, but it doesn’t seem to be beneficial for them, therefore they have to release their games on other platforms.
2) As a result, even though they may not be leaving the console business, they are becoming a third party publisher in the same vein as Sega, regardless of new consoles or not.
I truly believe if they would have marketed their “exclusives” properly, and had a regular cadence of releases dating back from the second year of Xbox One, then this situation wouldn’t be happening at all, and by that I mean their games coming to PlayStation. PC was always a given in my opinion - that’s how they touted their OG Xbox from the start.
Re: Xbox Founding Member 'Not Pleased' With State Of The Brand In 2025
I unfortunately have to agree with her sentiments as well. As a brand, and to drive hardware sales and exclusives to drive people to the console, it has failed immensely. As a publisher, however, they are currently the biggest in the industry. Microsoft is going the SEGA route which is a smart move, but they really need to work on their marketing.
Re: Talking Point: What's Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025 So Far?
1) Clair Obscur Expedition 33
2) Doom: The Dark Ages
3) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
I got every trophy/achievement for all of these games, and that’s a testament to how special I think each one is. It has been a fantastic year of gaming, and I’ve yet to play some of the other popular titles released this year, such as Atomfall, Avowed, South of Midnight, and a few others.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 28-29)
I beat and got the platinum trophy for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for PS5. It was your classic Bethesda game, and a special experience. I haven’t tackled the Shivering Isles DLC yet - I’m setting it to the side because I want to play other games.
My attention is now all on Death Stranding 2. I’m only four hours in but it’s been great so far. The gameplay mechanics are refined, and feel more like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in terms of movement, sound, and gunplay.
I like how there is a more emphasis on stealth combat. There have been numerous situations so far where I’m on the edge of my seat due to nerves combating my way through bandit camps, treacherous weather, and the terrain itself. It’s a perfect blend of environment story telling in a unique way. I also feel a sense of obligation to find lost cargo to deliver to other settlements despite the risky nature. It creates a real sense of urgency, but also forces you to be patient - until you can’t.
There was one instance where I had to make a delivery to a Chiral network, but it was pouring down rain. The rivers began to rise, and there were bandits surrounding me, but unaware of my presence. All the while the rain itself was damaging my cargo, almost forcing me to beeline my way straight to the objective. I offloaded my equipment, hiding it in tall grass so the enemies couldn’t see me carrying so much and alert nearby guards.
I systematically eliminated all enemies without being discovered, but my cargo eventually became damaged. I began scouring the area for container repair spray and found a handful of them, but even more importantly, I found a hidden vehicle. I quickly got inside, drove to my packages, loaded them into the bed of the truck, and carefully crossed the river. Once I reached my destination, I repaired all containers and delivered them safe and sound.
This moment-to-moment gameplay — a free sandbox to operate in — was really fun. It was essentially solving a puzzle that I could have optionally ignored, but with high risk there is a high reward. It’s these types of situations where MGSV: TPP shined immensely, and DS2 has evolved that process in peak form. I can’t wait to see how much more it expands as time goes on.
Re: Imminent Xbox Layoffs Could Include Entire Studios, Warns Industry Veteran
@Millionski Yeah, that also plays a huge role in this unfortunate event.
Re: Imminent Xbox Layoffs Could Include Entire Studios, Warns Industry Veteran
@rhyno_888 I have to agree, and this is the danger of putting a game on a subscription service instead of promoting it for people to buy. In my humble opinion, this is my biggest issue with Game Pass. It is absolutely fantastic for the consumer, but it has ripple effects across the industry that are negative.
Honestly, you have to have a certified banger on your hands to have success outside of Game Pass. Clair Obscur, arguably GOTY, made 3.3 million dollars in 3 weeks, and it’s higher now no question. However, how many of those sales are from Xbox players? If that game was an Xbox exclusive and day one on Game Pass, that studio would most likely be shut down despite the critical success it has received. The fact is, any developer/studio would tell you they would rather make a $60-80.00 sale outright then someone paying $20.00 for a subscription service with the hope — not guarantee — that audiences will play their game, and then make less money of that percentage.
As I said, as a consumer, Game Pass is awesome, but it’s not good for everyone else involved. This is why I prefer buying my games, whether it be on my PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 21-22)
@RedDuck9 That basement section was peak Resident Evil, and I think a true highlight out of the entire franchise. It was also very disturbing.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 21-22)
I’m still questing, exploring caves, tackling dungeons, killing trolls, and making my way to the platinum trophy in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Hopefully, I’ll have it wrapped up in time for Death Stranding 2, but I doubt it, and that’s okay because I love this world of Cyrodiil.
Re: Report: Xbox Working On Massive Backwards Compatibility Overhaul Called 'Xbox Classics'
All I want is Singularity. I’ve been saying this for years. Give me that game and you’ll have my undivided attention.
Re: PS5's Stellar Blade Could Move To Switch 2, But What About Xbox?
Great game - got the platinum for it. I’d love to see it come to more consoles because it’s a fantastic game that deserves to be played.
Re: Black Myth: Wukong Pre-Orders Now Live On Xbox, With A 20% Launch Discount
I hope consumers will speak with their wallets for this game, since people have been clambering for Xbox version. It’s a superb game, in my opinion.
Re: Next-Gen Xbox Partnership Will 'Push The Boundaries Of What's Possible', Says AMD Exec
It’s hard for me to get excited about any kind of new console from Xbox. I personally do not care about how much of a leap next gen will be, and the power of the console - we hear that every time from Microsoft. To me, it’s all about games. Are you going to have a steady cadence of AAA games, interspersed with AA/indie games? If so, what is separating you from PS since those games will ultimately be on that console? If it’s Game Pass, and having that subscription across multiple devices - Play Anywhere - how confident are they that developers will want to release their games on that platform?
At the end of the day, GP is great for the consumer, but a detriment to the studios. I guarantee if you ask them, they would all say that they would prefer to make $60-80.00 per game rather than $20.00 or whatever the price is for the subscription service, and not have a guarantee it will find an audience. Look at PS - people are still happy paying for games, and owning them. Look at Clair Obscur, with 3.3 million copies sold (probably more at this point). How many of those copies do you think were on Xbox? Not many, I assume.
I don’t want to speak poorly on Xbox/Microsoft - I love my Series X and it’s a great consumer product if you have GP, but there is a reason why they are releasing their games on PS. If they had a strong AAA exclusive library of games that sold well, I highly doubt Microsoft would be in the situation that they are in now.
Re: Xbox Announces Next-Gen Console Strategy, Promises 'Deeper Visuals' & Backwards Compatibility
This sounds like awesome news, but it’s a wait and see for me. Prior to this generation of console releases, I chose to purchase a Series X rather than PS5 first (I was always going to get both). I was excited about the Bethesda acquisitions and other studios. And then the promise that Microsoft always makes - the games are coming - never came to fruition, until this year. By this point, most of, if not all the games I’m interested in from Microsoft is playable on the PS5, or will be. In my humble opinion, 2022 was an incredible year for Game Pass and I was blown away by the content. It was my main source of gaming from a console standpoint. And then it disappeared. I would love for this new iteration to be something to genuinely look forward to, but I can wait for PS5/6 versions (I also prefer the trophy system over achievements). Moreover, it’s becoming more and more likely that first party Xbox games are becoming day-and-day on console releases. All of that being said, I am enjoying the content Game Pass is delivering this year. If this remains steady and consistent, it might become my go-to choice for gaming, but that’s the key - consistency (and also genuine marketing).
Re: Review: Rematch (Xbox) - A Highly Addictive Blend Of Rocket League And Real Football
I’m glad to see the game reviewing well, but it’s sadly not for me. I was surprised to see this be the next game after Sifu — and hopefully they will return to that universe sometime.
Re: Four Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In July 2025 So Far
Wuchang will probably be a game I download. It looks pretty good. I haven’t turned my Series X on since STALKER 2 (one of my favorite games this generation), so I have a pretty strong lineup of backlog games on Game Pass. I’ll probably dive into all of them once I beat Death Stranding 2 after it releases.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 14-15)
I haven’t had much time to play games this week, let alone this weekend. Whatever free time I do have I will be spending it in the world of Cyrodiil in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
I always find Bethesda RPGs interesting because I tend to forget how they are meant to be played, and it’s incredibly easy to become overwhelmed. I never know if I should immediately set out and explore, or start the main quest. And yet, the result is always the same - I wander aimlessly and complete dungeons I’m not a high enough level for, pick locks and break into homes, read random notes and journals that lead me down an interesting quest line, and stealth my way through enemies with my bow and arrow.
Somehow, after discovering towns and stumbling my way through tons of side quests, I always manage to organically start the main narrative, unsure of how I did so. I think this is the brilliance that modern Bethesda games are missing — Fallout 4 (I really enjoyed that game; got the platinum for it) and Starfield particularly. There is a certain magic to the art of discovery that will eventually lead you to where you’re meant to go even if it doesn’t appear that way initially.
With that said, there is one issue I have with the game design, albeit it’s a product of 2006. Exploring caves and dungeons are great, but it can be disheartening when at the end of the area there isn’t an exit — you have to backtrack to leave. This isn’t with every area, mind you, but it’s incredibly noticeable. Thankfully, Skyrim fixed this problem.
Other than that minor quibble, Oblivion is sublime. When it first released in 2006, I did not like the game whatsoever. My best friend was obsessed with it, and watching him play it I thought, ”Man, this looks so cool”, but it was never fun to play for me. I had the same reaction to Fallout 3. It wasn’t until Skyrim that these types of games clicked with me. Fast forward 19-years, and it has become my favorite genre. And when Bethesda does make a good game, you know it, and there is no other feeling like it.
Re: MindsEye Releases To Zero Reviews, But Here's What The Players Are Saying
I’ve played about two hours so far and it’s solid. It isn’t going to blow anyone’s mind, and it has its technical issues: lip synching, and some stuttering, but the driving is great. The gunplay is okay, but the sound design is off. The story actually seems pretty cool, and the voice acting, animations, and cutscenes are good. It’s probably a 6.5/10 or a 7/10 kind of game, and I’m okay with that. It was what I was expecting and I’m content.
Re: All 60+ Backwards Compatible Games In The Xbox Deals Unlocked Sale 2025
Call me when Singularity finally becomes BWC because it’s a shame it’s not.
Re: Opinion: I've Never Liked JRPGs, But Xbox's New FF16 Demo Has Me Hooked
16 is a fantastic entry in the series, and I’m glad to hear it has changed your opinion. Moreover, it’s nice seeing (anyone, really) someone give a genre a chance that they aren’t fond of.
Re: MindsEye Launches Today, But Dev Warns Xbox Players To Apply Day One Patch
@RBRTMNZ What makes it look like crap to you?
Re: MindsEye Launches Later Today, But Dev Warns Xbox Players To Wait For Day One Patch
@themightyant That is totally fair. The alarm bells are ringing, and the whole debacle with the bad previews are a result of being paid to do so is quite ridiculous. The marketing for this game from a studio standpoint - no early review copies, etc.; - do not scream confidence in their product. I can’t argue with that — the skepticism is warranted for sure.
Re: MindsEye Launches Later Today, But Dev Warns Xbox Players To Wait For Day One Patch
@dskatter What makes it look horrible exactly? Maybe generic, sure, but horrible? From all the videos shown, the gunplay seems cool, the driving seems fun, and they seem to be trying to create a decent story. I’m not saying any of these things will be good, mind you, but I have yet to see anything from the videos shown that says it’s horrible.
Re: MindsEye Launches Later Today, But Dev Warns Xbox Players To Wait For Day One Patch
@Dan1283 I think this mindset is what’s wrong with a lot of gaming culture today. Don’t get me wrong, I understand your point of view — early impressions of the game via YouTube channels aren’t high on the game — but from the very first showing of this game people have said this game will be “awful”, or “trash”. A lot of people don’t give games chances anymore and it’s saddening. Every Xbox showcase, PS State of Play, what-have-you is “trash” in the comment section, or portrayed as the worst showcase in history. It seems “cool” to constantly be negative on games. It’s very disheartening.
And yeah, the game could be flat out awful. It may be broken, or just discombobulated altogether. However, if the driving mechanics and gunplay are solid, I think the game will be decent. I don’t need a 8/10 kind of game. Sometimes, I’m looking for a good mindless romp similar to games from the PS3 and 360 era. This looks to be in that vein.
Re: Review: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition - A Proper 360 Throwback On Xbox Game Pass
@Kaloudz It plays like it in terms of gunplay and violence, but that’s where the comparisons end. There are no walls to cover to—you are simply out to kill hordes of enemies in brutal fashion.
Re: Review: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition - A Proper 360 Throwback On Xbox Game Pass
I never played the first game, but absolutely adore Space Marine 2. I’ll for sure be booting up my X for this. It should be a fun time.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 7-8)
This week I managed to finish Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo. It is a game that never outstayed its welcome, and its Metroidvania and Zelda-like qualities were incredibly well done. It took me about 17 hours, with completion rate of 78%. I feel quite satiated with my experience.
Subsequently, I was perusing my back catalog of games and saw Sea of Stars. I then realized Sabotage Studios released their hefty free expansion/DLC, Throes of the Watchmaker a week or so ago, and I decided to redownload the game.
I have beaten it before, but I noticed I missed a ton of optional content. Once I booted the game back up, I was immediately drawn back into this gorgeous world, almost without missing a beat. Within a couple of hours I mopped up all side bosses and collectibles, and even got the platinum trophy for it.
It is truly an outstanding retro-inspired JRPG. And, having not played it since release, all of the patches and updates have made it an even more enjoyable experience; it is more streamlined, in a positive way. As of right now, I’m a couple of hours in the DLC and it’s been sublime. I’m really looking forward to the new classes, abilities, and story.
I’m not sure what I want to play next. I have my eye on two games: MindsEye (I honestly think it looks solid despite the hooblah) and Blades of Fire. I’m not looking for anything special - just a simple spray and pray or hack and slash. Really, I’m just biding my time until Death Stranding 2 releases.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 31 - June 1)
This week(end) I got the platinum trophy for Doom: The Dark Ages. It’s truly an extraordinary FPS. My initial impression was lukewarm. I felt the essence of DOOM was absent, but the more I played the more I became enamored with what it was trying to do mechanically.
Once you get past its lengthy tutorial stages the game ramps up the significantly. You are provided a plethora of weapons and upgrades that all feel unique and fun to use. Meanwhile, exploration is rewarding and feels more confident than its predecessors.
Overall, The Dark Ages is probably my favorite out of the trilogy. With that said, I could go back and forth any day of the week because each game does something unique that makes it stand out in ways that suit my play-style. Either way, these are a fantastic set of games that are worth adding to your catalogue.
In the last two weeks, I have obtained the platinum for Doom and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is my personal GOTY. Both games are emotionally draining in their own way, so I needed to change up the pace.
That brings me to Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo (Nintendo Switch). This game rules. If you are a fan of top down Zelda-like with a dab of Metroidvania elements, this game is a must play.
As the title suggests, your main weapon is a yoyo. It’s such a great weapon that intertwines real life tricks such as Walk the Dog as learned abilities that really expand how you interact with exploration and combat. There are many variants, with a large amount of abilities I’ve yet to find, so I’m curious how the game evolves.
There are also upgrades, but they are handled in a way that is a challenge in and of itself. You’re essentially renting them until you can pay off the loan. While you are doing that, certain upgrades may take a life point away from you until you pay back the money whilst learning the skill. It’s a keen balance.
You can see the developers were inspired by classic Zelda games. There are numerous secrets to uncover, one of which is heart petals. Once you find enough of them, you gain an extra life. There are also main dungeons to progress through. They all have a unique locale, and are really fun and clever, making you utilize what an actual yoyo can do. The way these dungeons are set up, and how you’re able to interact with the environment via the yoyo, it’s fun manipulating how to dispatch your enemies.
Speaking of enemies, this game is genuinely challenging. It plays like your typical 2D action platformers, but in a top down view. Moreover, it’s not just the enemies you have to worry about, it’s the levels themselves. The game is constantly moving, making the environment just as much as a threat as the bad guys. I’ve died numerous times, but it always feels like my fault. Thankfully, the game is generous and saves your progress every new room you enter, which is often.
I’m about eight hours in total, and I’ve completed two main dungeons out of four (I believe), along with a ton of optional content. I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of this game because looking at my upgrades and abilities that I’ve yet to find, I see nothing but endless possibilities. This game is going to be special, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
Re: GTA-Like 'MindsEye' Gets Full Overview Ahead Of Xbox Launch Next Month
I can’t wait for this. Will the game be good? Probably not. Will it be mindless fun, similar to old-school PS3/360 games? Probably. I’m going in with no expectations. Hopefully it will be a good time.
Honestly, though, this really does look fun. I have a feeling it will become a cult classic. It doesn’t look like it will do anything to reinvent the wheel, but if the controls are good — driving mechanics and gunplay — then it will be a solid game. The story seems interesting too, and I like the idea of an “infinite” open world.
It sucks that so many people are writing this game off already without giving it a chance. But hey, this is the gaming culture these days. There was similar discourse to Evil West, and that turned out to be fantastic. Idk, guys, I think this will be a good game.
Re: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's New Sales Milestone Has Some Crazy Coincidences
The sales are well deserved, and that’s such an ironic number! Funnily enough, my wife had to go to the doctor today. I went to pick up her medicine and it literally cost $3.33. I told my wife how crazy it is but she didn’t understand. Haha.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 24-25)
This weekend I can happily say I beat Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and got the platinum trophy. For me personally, this game will go down as an all-time favorite. It’s peak RPG in every facet, but does it in a condensed manner that never outstays its welcome. It also features one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard in a video game. I’ve had the song Visages - Aria pour un Masque de Colere on repeat for days.
I’m now on to DOOM: The Dark Ages. The gameplay is top notch, but the tone and atmosphere feel different from its predecessors. There were shades of demonic horror in the first two games, from its enemies and environments, which told a story on its own. With this entry, everything seems more cartoonish and colorful. For a game that has Dark Ages in the title, it seems too bright in its aesthetics, and strips away the darkness of the first two games — something that would be more fitting for not only a DOOM game, but for a medieval title.
With all of that said, from a combat perspective it feels great. It plays fast and kinetic, but also feels slowed down to feel properly in control. The shield is an excellent addition to a series bolstering legendary weapons, and it never gets old throwing your saw shield at enemies and carving them to pieces. All of the weapons are fun to use, each with their own unique abilities, and the plethora of upgrades available really enhance experience.
Still, though, my only complaint is changing for the positive thus far. I’m on the 9th chapter and have a 100% completion rate for each mission. The game really hits its stride with confidence on the sixth chapter, after its tutorials. And really, these games are all about gameplay, and there aren’t many franchises that do it better than id Software. I’ll be looking forward to obtaining the platinum trophy for this one.
My wife is also having some friends staying over this weekend, so I think my father-in-law and I will bust out my Blackstone grill and cook hibachi for everyone. We haven’t done that in a while and the weather should be perfect to spend outdoors enjoying good food and even better company.
Re: Rumour: Xbox's Starfield Is Moving To PS5, Should Be Announced This Year
I didn’t like what I played of Starfield, which admittedly wasn’t much, but I do hope it finds a larger audience and success on PlayStation. I would like to revisit the game at some point in time and give it a fair chance.
Re: Sea Of Stars Adds Eight Hours Of Free Story DLC On Xbox Game Pass
Awesome news! I’ll definitely be downloading. I really enjoyed the base game, so I’ll probably do a NG+ and tackle the DLC along with it.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (May 17-18)
This weekend I am finally wrapping up the platinum trophy for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I’ve completed every optional boss, all thirty-three levels of the Endless Tower, and all additional side content, so all I have left to do is reach level 99. I’m six levels away, so I’m just grinding.
Even now, after essentially 100%’ing the game, I’m even more enamored with it than I was originally. I’m having a total blast using pictos and creating new unique builds, and seeing how far I can push my damage output. I’ve beaten some end-game bosses with one hit, and it’s very satisfying.
This game is without a doubt my GOTY. It has been expertly paced from start to finish. The story is deep and impactful, every character is fully developed and interesting, exploration is rewarding, and it’s a masterclass in roleplaying. Typically, the longer you play a game the more you begin to see its flaws, but not here - I might just consider it the perfect JRPG.
Once I wrap that up, I’ll officially start DOOM: The Dark Ages. I’ve been attempting to go into it as blind as possible, but I’ve read a few reviews that say it plays similarly to the 2016 reboot. I hope this is true because as much as I love Eternal and its relentless nature, I liked the slower pace - well, slower for DOOM standards - and the weapons better.
Re: The Witcher 3 Drops To 'Lowest Price Ever' In Unbelievable Xbox Deal
@deadmaker Yeah, I’d recommend a stronger console to play this game. While it is great on the Switch, there are too many compromises. I feel like you’d get a better experience on PlayStation or Xbox. That said, I played on PS and double dipped when it came out on Switch, and it was a great experience on both!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (March 1-2)
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
I have racked up 200 hours in this game - an amount of time I’ve never spent on a single game in a continual manner without getting burned out. In terms of story, I’m roughly fifty percent through the main campaign. My goal is to have every side quest and trophy mopped up that doesn’t relate to main missions before I push onward to the end of the game.
In the last ten hours, my Henry has crawled in manure to search for a man, has built pyramids out of human remains, been so drunk that someone stole his shoes in the middle of the town square, helped a young man from being bullied by villagers, and went down to the depths of hell (almost literally) to stop demons from coming out of the pitts and killing livestock. It resulted in me in losing my entire clothing and weapons, and killing a man who lost his mind to darkness and his mission.
If that doesn’t sound appealing to you, just know that I’m considered to be the Dark Lord who has the nickname Sourdough. I’m quite literally the epitome of a Jack of all Trades. I’m not to be trifled with.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 8-9)
This weekend I’ll mainly be focusing on Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. I never played the first entry, but Warhorse posted a ten minute summary on their YouTube channel and it really helped me get a grasp on the story.
So far, I’m a couple of hours in, but I’m very impressed. The writing is absolutely top-notch, with incredible voice acting and animations that bring the characters to life. The cutscenes themselves are high quality. I don’t think I’ve ever said this about a video game before, but it has a movie-ish quality to it, from its cinematography and direction.
It might be the most immersive game I’ve ever played, with incredible RPG mechanics and dialogue choices that genuinely make me pause and think about my responses. I really can’t wait to dive deeper into this medieval adventure.
On a side note, earlier this week I finished Unicorn Overlord and got the platinum trophy. What a fantastic game, and easily my favorite Vanillaware title to date. I can’t wait to see what kind of game they follow up with.
I’ve also been on an independent horror kick. I saw through Steam that a game called Fears to Fathom: Ironbark Lookout got positive reviews. The trailer seemed interesting so I picked it up. In my opinion, it was quite mediocre. Tonally, the game was great, and it featured great atmosphere, but everything else was subpar. And the way the narrative unfolds seems to be directly ripped out of a “Let’s Not Meet” Reddit story. Nonetheless, I got the platinum and immediately uninstalled it.
I’ll also be chipping away at the Mafia Definitive Edition platinum. I’m playing on classic difficulty and currently on chapter 12/20. It’s been fantastic, but I strongly dislike the collectible system in the game. Technically, the game is considered “open world”, but you are never incentivized to explore your surroundings because the main story is structured very linearly. A lot of collectibles are story related and hard to miss, but some are inexplicably in obscure places that don’t make sense in its design, while subsequently having a “free roam” mode to have more hidden collectibles. I think it’s poorly designed and not implemented in a way that is logically sound.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 1-2)
This weekend I’m still playing Unicorn Overlord, and still completely enamored with it. I think I’m roughly 75% of the way to completion. My goal is to wrap up the platinum trophy within the next couple of days. The game does have you grind a bit, but thankfully you can “skip” battles — not experiencing the animations and battle scenes — and still get experience points. It helps save a ton of time because some of the battles can be time consuming, lasting anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour.
Meanwhile, I’ve set a New Year gaming resolution for myself (and trying to consistent with it) - browse the PSN, or any other digital store front where I play my games, and try out new games regardless of word of mouth or not. Doing so, I came across a game called Bloodwash. It’s a retro, PS1-era first person horror game. It’s essentially a video game form of a slasher film. I found it to be a pretty solid two hour experience and a nice palate cleanser. Moreover, I even got the platinum trophy, which I hadn’t expected.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 25-26)
This weekend I’ll be obsessively playing Unicorn Overlord. I bought it when it first came out and didn’t enjoy it because I wasn’t used to not actively controlling my party members in combat situations. However, the more I played the more I understood how the game operates.
It’s the sub stories within the main narrative that really gripped me, such as The Tormented Helm. It was excellent, and provided a very foreboding scene, along with great moment-to-moment character interactions and fun battle encounter. While the main story is good, it isn’t great. Essentially, it’s serviceable.
Furthermore, tinkering with your party compositions, equipment, and wandering the world - everything has a purpose. Side quests are meaningful, from a monetary perspective, along with characters being added to your party, and backstories. You get to learn more history between characters and it all feels organic. Additionally, the game is continually rewarding. There is a sense of progression even from the monotonous tasks, and creates a gameplay loop that makes you want to complete everything you stumble across.
The art style is some of the very best I’ve ever seen. Each backdrop is brimming with unique locales, from vibrant and lush forests, to shining palaces, and decrepit ruins. If there is fog or a sandstorm it is visible within the battlefield. The animations between combat, conversation and traversal are gorgeous, and with the game being almost entirely voice acted, it feels as if the stakes are higher and more emotion is seeped through to the characters.
All of that said, the game is quite overwhelming. The more you acquire party members, the more it can feel daunting when changing out equipment, leveling up certain characters that aren’t getting enough attention, unlocking more grid-base tiles and spaces on them. But that’s also the fun of it — figuring things out. And damn if it’s not satisfying when you discover a good composition of party members.
Unicorn Overlord is just incredible. It has its hooks in me. I’m thinking about this game while I’m at work, thinking of new party stratagems, managing my units with certain equipment, how I want their combat to play out with certain conditions. I’m head over heels for this game, and I don’t know why I had any doubt to begin with considering Vanillaware’s pedigree.
On a side note: I also got the platinum in Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl and Stellar Blade in the last couple of weeks.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 18-19)
This weekend I’ll be focusing on a NG+ run in Stellar Blade. I’m halfway through and plan on wrapping up the platinum trophy. I forgot how brilliant this game is, from its soundtrack, combat, and ambience. Meanwhile, earlier this week I completed Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl and got the platinum for that. It’s an achievement I’m quite proud of, and after playing the first game — recently starting my entry into this franchise with Stalker 2 — I can confidently say it has become one of my favorite franchises.
Edit / Update: I just got the platinum for Stellar Blade. Now I’m unsure what to play next.