It'd be nice to see some underrepresented (as far as gaming) locations. Zimbabwe, Malaysia, someplace different with bustling city areas and scenic off roads and coasts. I mean look at FH5, it's the most positive representation of Mexico I've seen in a video game and helped expand my image of it beyond Cancun, Day of the Dead, etc. Japan is beautiful, yes, but there's a lot of world out there worth exploring imo.
I would love for Skylanders to come back. Minus the whole figurines part. That got expensive real quick. But the games themselves were really fun Diablo-lite games with tons of replayability. My family definitely enjoyed this series. Plus it would be cool to see the Banjo, Crash and Viva Pinata characters show up too after this whole Activision deal. Having an accessible, family-friendly co-op series on Game Pass would be sweet.
@leathco Seriously $300 would be perfect. It's a price that would get people thinking 'if I just pay $100 more I can get twice the memory!' But now it's pay twice as much to get twice as much.
I don't know, a lot harsh criticism of Sony's current output I don't think is justified. Say what you will about the quality of the games or the depth of their design, Sony exclusives generate a conversation because they're all character-focused. When people talk about about PlayStation exclusives, they're talking about Aloy, Joel and Ellie, Miles Morales and Peter Parker, Ratchet and Clank, Nathan Drake.
How well-written any of these characters are can be debated. But the fact the average player can put a face on these games goes a long way. Microsoft's lineup seems to float between masked heroes (Master Chief, Doom Guy), blank-slates (your created hero in Bethesda, Obsidian, and Fable games) or no character at all (Forza, Flight Simulator). It's a harder sell to the casual consumer. It's part of why Marvel movies have all their heroes unmasked. Even a blank slate with a unique design can do wonders (Nintendo's roster of beloved mascots).
It's not just the amount of money Sony puts into these 'AAAA' exclusives, it's the money put behind a marketable face. It's what has me intrigued about the upcoming Perfect Dark game on Xbox Series. I have a distinct memory of Joanna Dark from the N64 classic that stays with me to this day and I can't wait to see how she is reinterpreted for a modern audience.
Again, I'm not debating the depth of these characters but I am highlighting the importance of their looks and their voices. I can't tell you how many 'Boy!' jokes I've heard referencing God of War or how incredibly cosplayable Aloy is (WWE wrestlers wearing her costume to pay-per-view matches!) or how goofy fun it is to see Ratchet and Clank crack wise.
Don't get me wrong, I really love my Series X (lucky enough to have one too) and look forward to their future lineup. Raz and the Psychonauts are a good start. More please. And I'm confident the talent behind the various Xbox studios can not only create a slate of characters that can give Xbox equal footing to Sony and Nintendo, but they'll assuredly inject some deep mechanics and design behind those faces. That is something I definitely want to see from Microsoft.
"Goalkeepers, too, have received a lot of attention. They're a little bizarre now, acting like supermen and women when you get up close, heroically diving to prevent almost certain goals, while sometimes also failing to react appropriately and strangely watching the ball go past them when they should be diving to make a save." I don't know seems pretty accurate to me.
I love multiplayer cosmetics but I never understood the appeal of Halo's implementation of them. And I loved Halo 1, 2 and Reach! But Halo cosmetics always felt like infinite (I know) variations on the same Spartan design. A bunch of Not-Master Chiefs running around each map. Yes, these new designs are ridiculous but I'll take ridiculous over slightly different shoulder plates and uglier visors on the helmets.
Really, they should make a third branch of Forza that's a love letter to arcade racers.
Throw in some Burnout, San Francisco Rush, Cruis'n, Ridge Racer, OutRun, Crazy Taxi, Need for Speed, Split/Second, Blur, Midnight Club, FlatOut, Midtown Madness, Smugglers Run, Spy Hunter, etc etc all inside a gorgeous 60 FPS 4K RTX wrapper.
Make sure there are big jumps, bigger crashes, minigames, track editor, crash mode, road rage, tag, king of the hill, eliminator, cops vs robbers, heists, stunt mode and a ridiculously cheesy story mode with the best-looking FMV ever filmed.
Call it Forza Funsplosion just to drive home the point. Take my money goddammit!
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge HD shadow drop with cross play between Xbox and PC users. Wow, I just set myself up for some serious disappointment.
It's a huge win for publishers since what better way to promote your next big game than to make the earlier games in a series available on Game Pass? I can only imagine how much Yakuza: Like A Dragon benefitted from having all the other Yakuza games on the service.
I see more than a few people argue that weak mechanics in one area of a game does not ruin the overall experience. I agree with that. I've enjoyed plenty of flawed games by managing to gloss over the crusty bits.
However, that does not mean those flaws can be as easily overlooked by everyone. And even if flawed mechanics can somehow be justified by in-game reasons (i.e. the characters are ordinary people so of course the gunplay is wonky, or something something realism) that doesn't excuse the fact that it's there like that.
If a game has gunplay. The guns should feel good regardless of how much time is actually spent shooting. Same thing goes for platforming, driving, etc. If the mechanics exist in the game, it should be good. Not good within the context of the story, just good. You can make a combat sequence feel desperate in addition to making the shooting smooth and intuitive.
I feel like gaming more than any other medium has its audience defending a work's flaws instead of taking into account criticism. At best we get 'well, the flaws add to the charm!' with me facepalming right after.
PES licensed Napoli but Serie A is still with FIFA? How does that work? I would think licensing a league would provide access to all the teams within. I guess I'm just used to team rosters based in American leagues (NFL, NBA) being pretty static year to year.
Please let there be cross-saves! I love this game and I've sunk around 800 hours into the Switch version (without spending a dime!) but I don't want to start all over.
Legacy of Kain. Square Enix already remakes Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games on a regular basis. Even the Mana series has been getting the remake treatment. I doubt they'd outsource a remake of Chrono Trigger or something similarly huge much less agree to splitting the profits 50/50. And based on Forever Entertainments work on the Panzer Dragoon Remake and upcoming Zwei Remake, I'd guess they'll be remaking another 3D franchise.
So my guess Legacy of Kain. There's enough games in the series to fit the multiple projects description. The earlier LoK games were also late 90s 3D games. Forever could use everything they learned working on Panzer Dragoon and apply it here. Plus it's a dormant franchise that presents a low risk investment for Square Enix. They don't have to spend anything on the development-side and they can use these remakes to guage interest in a new installment.
If Forever does a bang up job, they'll put themselves into the perfect position to make a new Legacy of Kain game WITH Square Enix fitting the bill on development. At the very least, this would open up more opportunities to remake other neglected Square Enix games.
Or I could be completely off and we're gonna get Compilation of Final Fantasy VII remakes out the wazoo.
If this means more resource are put into quality writing and design for good single-player content, I’m all for it. Also, if the Mass Effect trilogy is getting remastered...
Comments 76
Re: Forza Fans Won't Give Up On Japan As The Next Horizon Location
It'd be nice to see some underrepresented (as far as gaming) locations. Zimbabwe, Malaysia, someplace different with bustling city areas and scenic off roads and coasts. I mean look at FH5, it's the most positive representation of Mexico I've seen in a video game and helped expand my image of it beyond Cancun, Day of the Dead, etc. Japan is beautiful, yes, but there's a lot of world out there worth exploring imo.
Re: Activision CEO Wants Guitar Hero & Skylanders To Return On Xbox
I would love for Skylanders to come back. Minus the whole figurines part. That got expensive real quick. But the games themselves were really fun Diablo-lite games with tons of replayability. My family definitely enjoyed this series. Plus it would be cool to see the Banjo, Crash and Viva Pinata characters show up too after this whole Activision deal. Having an accessible, family-friendly co-op series on Game Pass would be sweet.
Re: Random: Phil Spencer Is Hitting The Slopes This Winter With His Xbox Snowboard
Man, what if this is an elaborate Amped 4 tease?
Re: Xbox Reveals New 512GB & 2TB Seagate Expansion Cards For Xbox Series X|S
@leathco Seriously $300 would be perfect. It's a price that would get people thinking 'if I just pay $100 more I can get twice the memory!' But now it's pay twice as much to get twice as much.
Re: Xbox Exec Admits PlayStation Has Been 'Out In Front' With 'A Certain Kind Of Game'
I don't know, a lot harsh criticism of Sony's current output I don't think is justified. Say what you will about the quality of the games or the depth of their design, Sony exclusives generate a conversation because they're all character-focused. When people talk about about PlayStation exclusives, they're talking about Aloy, Joel and Ellie, Miles Morales and Peter Parker, Ratchet and Clank, Nathan Drake.
How well-written any of these characters are can be debated. But the fact the average player can put a face on these games goes a long way. Microsoft's lineup seems to float between masked heroes (Master Chief, Doom Guy), blank-slates (your created hero in Bethesda, Obsidian, and Fable games) or no character at all (Forza, Flight Simulator). It's a harder sell to the casual consumer. It's part of why Marvel movies have all their heroes unmasked. Even a blank slate with a unique design can do wonders (Nintendo's roster of beloved mascots).
It's not just the amount of money Sony puts into these 'AAAA' exclusives, it's the money put behind a marketable face. It's what has me intrigued about the upcoming Perfect Dark game on Xbox Series. I have a distinct memory of Joanna Dark from the N64 classic that stays with me to this day and I can't wait to see how she is reinterpreted for a modern audience.
Again, I'm not debating the depth of these characters but I am highlighting the importance of their looks and their voices. I can't tell you how many 'Boy!' jokes I've heard referencing God of War or how incredibly cosplayable Aloy is (WWE wrestlers wearing her costume to pay-per-view matches!) or how goofy fun it is to see Ratchet and Clank crack wise.
Don't get me wrong, I really love my Series X (lucky enough to have one too) and look forward to their future lineup. Raz and the Psychonauts are a good start. More please. And I'm confident the talent behind the various Xbox studios can not only create a slate of characters that can give Xbox equal footing to Sony and Nintendo, but they'll assuredly inject some deep mechanics and design behind those faces. That is something I definitely want to see from Microsoft.
Re: Back 4 Blood Players Have A Major Concern With Its Solo Campaign
@Deadcow this is true. Yeah this sucks.
Re: Back 4 Blood Players Have A Major Concern With Its Solo Campaign
Idk this always seemed as multiplayer-focused as L4D1 and 2. Did people enjoy playing with the AI in those games' single player?
Re: Review: FIFA 22 (XSX) - FIFA's Best Outing On The Pitch In Years
"Goalkeepers, too, have received a lot of attention. They're a little bizarre now, acting like supermen and women when you get up close, heroically diving to prevent almost certain goals, while sometimes also failing to react appropriately and strangely watching the ball go past them when they should be diving to make a save." I don't know seems pretty accurate to me.
Re: Halo's MCC Adds New 'Mythic' Armour Sets To Season 8, And Not Everyone Is Happy
@SplooshDmg Amen!
Re: Halo's MCC Adds New 'Mythic' Armour Sets To Season 8, And Not Everyone Is Happy
I love multiplayer cosmetics but I never understood the appeal of Halo's implementation of them. And I loved Halo 1, 2 and Reach! But Halo cosmetics always felt like infinite (I know) variations on the same Spartan design. A bunch of Not-Master Chiefs running around each map. Yes, these new designs are ridiculous but I'll take ridiculous over slightly different shoulder plates and uglier visors on the helmets.
Re: Halo's MCC Adds New 'Mythic' Armour Sets To Season 8, And Not Everyone Is Happy
@Xiovanni I guess tastes can vary wildly too. I can't stand Attack of the Clones or Revenge of the Sith but I genuinely loved The Last Jedi.
Re: Free-To-Play Racer Asphalt 9: Legends Is Now Available On Xbox
FINALLY!!! I've got 750+ hours on the Switch. Now I can play in 4k and with analogue triggers? YES!!
Re: Surprise! Sam & Max: Save The World Remastered Is Now Available On Xbox
Wait, it wasn't on Xbox before? This is good news then!
Re: FIFA 22's Cover Star Is Kylian Mbappé, Full Reveal This Weekend
@BionicDodo that last penalty kick was painful to watch smh
Re: Soapbox: Forza Horizon 5 Is Going To Need To Lean Into The Series' Absurdity To Impress Me
Really, they should make a third branch of Forza that's a love letter to arcade racers.
Throw in some Burnout, San Francisco Rush, Cruis'n, Ridge Racer, OutRun, Crazy Taxi, Need for Speed, Split/Second, Blur, Midnight Club, FlatOut, Midtown Madness, Smugglers Run, Spy Hunter, etc etc all inside a gorgeous 60 FPS 4K RTX wrapper.
Make sure there are big jumps, bigger crashes, minigames, track editor, crash mode, road rage, tag, king of the hill, eliminator, cops vs robbers, heists, stunt mode and a ridiculously cheesy story mode with the best-looking FMV ever filmed.
Call it Forza Funsplosion just to drive home the point. Take my money goddammit!
Re: Xbox Game Pass Has Some Kind Of Surprise In Store For Us This Sunday
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge HD shadow drop with cross play between Xbox and PC users. Wow, I just set myself up for some serious disappointment.
Re: Microsoft Marketing Exec: Xbox Game Pass Is A 'Real Win-Win Model'
It's a huge win for publishers since what better way to promote your next big game than to make the earlier games in a series available on Game Pass? I can only imagine how much Yakuza: Like A Dragon benefitted from having all the other Yakuza games on the service.
Re: These 15 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (May 18-27)
MechWarrior 5? Dope.
Re: Limited Run Games Is Now An Official Xbox Partner
Voodoo Vince HD complete with collectible Voodoo doll, please.
Re: Oops, Xbox's Confidential Review Of The Last Of Us 2 Just Leaked
I see more than a few people argue that weak mechanics in one area of a game does not ruin the overall experience. I agree with that. I've enjoyed plenty of flawed games by managing to gloss over the crusty bits.
However, that does not mean those flaws can be as easily overlooked by everyone. And even if flawed mechanics can somehow be justified by in-game reasons (i.e. the characters are ordinary people so of course the gunplay is wonky, or something something realism) that doesn't excuse the fact that it's there like that.
If a game has gunplay. The guns should feel good regardless of how much time is actually spent shooting. Same thing goes for platforming, driving, etc. If the mechanics exist in the game, it should be good. Not good within the context of the story, just good. You can make a combat sequence feel desperate in addition to making the shooting smooth and intuitive.
I feel like gaming more than any other medium has its audience defending a work's flaws instead of taking into account criticism. At best we get 'well, the flaws add to the charm!' with me facepalming right after.
Re: Konami Is Making Italian Side Napoli Exclusive To Pro Evolution Soccer
PES licensed Napoli but Serie A is still with FIFA? How does that work? I would think licensing a league would provide access to all the teams within. I guess I'm just used to team rosters based in American leagues (NFL, NBA) being pretty static year to year.
Re: Free Nintendo Switch Racer Asphalt 9: Legends Is Coming To Xbox
Please let there be cross-saves! I love this game and I've sunk around 800 hours into the Switch version (without spending a dime!) but I don't want to start all over.
Re: Incredibly, Sony Is Bringing MLB The Show 21 To Xbox Game Pass
That is insane! It truly is the best time to play video games.
Re: Panzer Dragoon: Remake Publisher Signs Deal With Square Enix To 'Release Several Remakes'
Legacy of Kain. Square Enix already remakes Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games on a regular basis. Even the Mana series has been getting the remake treatment. I doubt they'd outsource a remake of Chrono Trigger or something similarly huge much less agree to splitting the profits 50/50. And based on Forever Entertainments work on the Panzer Dragoon Remake and upcoming Zwei Remake, I'd guess they'll be remaking another 3D franchise.
So my guess Legacy of Kain. There's enough games in the series to fit the multiple projects description. The earlier LoK games were also late 90s 3D games. Forever could use everything they learned working on Panzer Dragoon and apply it here. Plus it's a dormant franchise that presents a low risk investment for Square Enix. They don't have to spend anything on the development-side and they can use these remakes to guage interest in a new installment.
If Forever does a bang up job, they'll put themselves into the perfect position to make a new Legacy of Kain game WITH Square Enix fitting the bill on development. At the very least, this would open up more opportunities to remake other neglected Square Enix games.
Or I could be completely off and we're gonna get Compilation of Final Fantasy VII remakes out the wazoo.
Re: Dragon Age 4 Is Reportedly Dropping All Planned Multiplayer Features
If this means more resource are put into quality writing and design for good single-player content, I’m all for it. Also, if the Mass Effect trilogy is getting remastered...
Re: Talking Point: Which Games Need 'FPS Boosts' For Xbox Series X|S?
Metal Gear Rising at 120fps