smoreon

@Balaam_ If anything, it'll probably be worse now, as they don't need to target last-gen specs.
By aiming for last-gen specs, you automatically get the headroom to really crank up the resolutions, performance, draw distance, etc. on even moderately better hardware like Series S. But by aiming for high-end hardware (e.g., Series X) from the start, it's all too easy to fly too close to the ceiling from the get-go... and then things have to be pared back to get the performance back up to par, especially for the S.

@shoeses

It was more than graphical, they changed a lot of the gameplay in it to be less janky

I wasn't aware that any noteworthy improvements had been made in the remake until now, and DR was pretty clunky in its original form, so fair enough! Still didn't need a graphical reworking, though.

About Halo, you'd think porting MCC to PlayStation 4/5 would be the easier move, if all they wanted was to get more Halo on Sony's platforms. Adding a sprint button to the trilogy and fixing the Library in 1 would be great, but I find it hard to get excited about re-re-releases of these games, as I'm old (not actually!) and I still think these are "modern". Especially Halo 2 Anniversary!

Nothing against remakes themselves, but Halo 2? Seriously?
They just did a full graphical remake in 2014, and it still looks great! Even Halo 3 holds up fine in-game, though the cutscenes haven't aged well. Are they planning to make considerable gameplay/content changes, on top of the graphics? Is that even necessary?

It's these remakes of modern games, and/or "re-remakes", that bug me. If a game isn't available on modern platforms or has major technical limitations, then by all means, remaster it! If it is available, but has severely outdated polygon graphics or clunky gameplay, then that's a candidate for a full remake. But The Last of Us, Dead Rising, and now this? It just seems pointless.

@nomither6 The N64 already had the quirky and awkward controller, limited storage media, and a bit of a "kiddy" image. So maybe the SNES was really the last great Nintendo console?

You make some valid points. Nintendo did make some baffling and unnecessary decisions with the GameCube that made things more difficult for devs, with little upside. And yeah, I'd probably take N64-era Kirby, Star Fox, Wave Race, and even Mario and Zelda over their GCN counterparts.

But I thought that both the N64 and GCN had really strong exclusives overall, and also appreciated how they had capable tech and were actually a viable option for multi-platform games. Wii kind of threw that out the window. It still had some bangers, for sure, but it was overall a step down, and Nintendo gaming has never reached the same heights as it did before the Wii (in my opinion).

PS: Apologies to those who are here to talk about Xbox! I can complain some more about Xbox One, if that helps?

@nomither6 As someone who loved the GameCube and its library, I was disappointed with and generally uninterested in the Wii:

• Many of my favourite games/franchises from the previous gen had somewhat disappointing sequels (Smash Bros. Brawl, Skyward Sword, etc.), or didn't show up at all (F-Zero).
• There was a much greater focus on casual experiences, and Wii Remote waggle was shoehorned into all kinds of games, even when it wasn't a good fit.
• The Wii was nice to have as a secondary console, but was not viable as a primary/sole platform, as multi-platform games had to be cut down or redesigned... or were more likely to be absent entirely.

All in all, I felt like Nintendo had abandoned their core audience to chase after fickle non-gamers... who all flocked to the Wii for a short time, before tiring of it and moving on within a few years.

6. Core before more

This is a philosophy that I not only hope they stick to, but wish more companies would live by. See Microsoft previously alienating their audience with "TVTVTV", or Nintendo alienating theirs with the Wii and Wii U.

@Commander91_YT I didn't mean that physical media have died off already, but that they are in the process of being (partially?) killed off: 20 years ago, every game was entirely on-disc (or card), and would work indefinitely. Now, you've got games with no physical release, consoles with no disc drive, half-baked discs that only contain half of the actual content, and Game Key Cards.

The real issue isn't physical vs. digital, but whether we own our games or not. Fully-offline physical media are great for that, of course. But also, DRM-free digital games will stay in your library forever, and you can copy them and back them up to your heart's content.
Live service games, and digital games with DRM, are what's actually at risk of being ripped away from you after you've bought them. And as you mentioned in that earlier post, The Crew is basically non-functional now, even on a physical disc.

@RBRTMNZ Hey, quite a few people seem to like those games!

But it is ironic that the physical version of Hardline has already been "delisted" for a long time, whereas we can keep purchasing unlimited digital copies until its digital delisting. And even after the delisting, we're not going to lose those games we've already purchased.

Of course, physical games can still be bought secondhand after the delisting, but that's a limited quantity, not to mention that an increasing number of modern games aren't even fully playable off the physical medium.

I'm not cheering the death of physical media, but it's a much more nuanced issue than physical-only collectors make it out to be.

Original Xbox, but only assuming you have a working/modded one, as the reliability was pretty poor.

Unlike the 360 and One, the original Xbox has tons of games that never made it to modern platforms. Its games have also aged well enough in general (by gameplay and graphical standards), and the technical performance (load times and framerate) holds up better than a lot of newer console games.

That was a great generation in general, and it's a shame that it was so short!

@Arkz Yeah, that's the thing that many people miss: on PCs, you have all these settings to tweak, and all these upgrades to buy... or you could just ignore them! Get some mid-range hardware and set your games to the medium preset, and 90% of the time, you're going to get a console-like experience without any tinkering needed!

Upgrading the GPU every couple of years, tweaking all of your settings to get them just right, etc., is only important if you're really picky and need the best of the best. If you get a console, you won't be getting the best of the best graphics/performance anyway!

@XxEvilAshxX I have no idea how many (or how few!) people played the Goldeneye port, but I'm sure the 30fps cap* and wobbly rendering** didn't help matters. Even with the 360 remake/remaster being off the table, it would have been nice to see Rare Replay receive a definitive version of the 1997 classic. I would've even purchased the digital edition of RR on sale, despite owning the physical one already!

*not present on N64 and NSO
**barely noticeable on N64, not present in NSO, as far as I'm aware.

Surprised that Silent Hill 4 is so high on the list, as you can at least get the PC version for like $10 on GOG. But it's a shame that many of those other ones are still stranded in the past.

I assume the music licensing is prohibitively expensive or complicated in the case of JSRF and especially Burnout 3, but what about Silent Hill 2 and Sonic Heroes? Those ones even have PC ports already!

This reminds me that I picked up the PS2 version years ago for next to nothing, but have barely even played it. (SHAME!!!)

Would definitely pick up the XB version if it goes on sale, but PCSX2 probably offers an equally great experience...

This is really surprising: the X-Men arcade game is one thing, but I wouldn't have ever expected to see the likes of Maximum Carnage and Arcade's Revenge make a return. The latter, speaking of which, is the only one of these that I have, and its soundtrack is amazing on the SNES. It's by the Follin brothers, so that tells you all you need to know.

• Get Rare working on at least one of their classic IPs. If they're not capable, find someone who is.
• Similarly, let the other underutilized studios do what they're good at. Start with smaller projects in the short term, if need be.
• Reopen the back compat program to allow for more games and maybe more FPS Boost enhancements, especially for the original Xbox. Drop 10+ new additions on the store in time for the 25th anniversary.
• Lay off the ads on the Xbox dashboard.
• Either commit to continuing with hardware, or retire it permanently, based on inside knowledge that I don't have in reality (but that I would have in this situation). But get out of this weird uncertain no-man's-land as soon as it's feasible.

What's that? We need to scrap all these initiatives, because they focus too much on games and good will instead of AI, and they don't provide Infinite Growth? Yes, Mr. Nadella. Right away, Mr. Nadella!

@FraserG Great choice of topic, by the way!

@EVIL-C Ghost Babel usually gets overlooked, due to being a portable game (being stuck on a ~30-year-old handheld can't help), but it's supposed to be a really strong entry, isn't it?

I actually felt that MG1&2 on the MSX played better than the MGS series (despite obviously being less cinematic), so if Ghost Babel delivers more of the same, plus 60fps and some more "modern" late-'90s game design standards, then it sounds like a winner!

@Romans12 But there are already easy ways to play Gears of War, and with good graphics and performance at that.

MGS4 has been stranded for 18 years on an old console that many people don't own, and even for those who do have a PS3... well, have you seen how this game runs in the busier scenes?

I can confidently say that Goldeneye and Perfect Dark are great games on their own merits, and this has nothing to do with nostalgia, as I got into them a decade after release!

I never bothered with the Xbox port, though, largely due to the unnecessary 30fps cap. The original N64 version was uncapped, making a locked 60fps possible on some emulators. Combine that with the native widescreen that the original already supported, plus the high-precision geometry rendering of almost any emulator, and emulation is just a better experience overall.

Still need to try the cancelled remake, but that one looks incredible!

@Romans12 The default controls make it very difficult to aim up and down, though you rarely need to actually aim on lower difficulties.

I prefer to play with the second control scheme (1.2 Solitaire), as it basically functions like modern dual-stick controls... except it's stuck in southpaw mode, but that feels natural to me on an N64 controller. The left and right hands can even be reversed on emulators (including NSO), resulting in a setup that strongly resembles modern shooters like CoD!

@GamingGod Would that be Spyhunter, by any chance?

@M20B25 Great choices to start with... though I may be biased, as I started with the same games!

I didn't have an OG Xbox until well after its time, but there was one set up in the lounge at my workplace, so when I found that JSRF/Sega GT '02 combo for just a few bucks, I had to get it. That same day, I also discovered Shenmue II- until that point, I'd only known of the Dreamcast version, so I was shocked to see a North American Xbox version! That kicked off my Shenmue journey, and started the painfully long wait to (hopefully) see the conclusion of Ryo's story.

PS: I'm guessing you jumped on Panzer Dragoon Orta as soon as it came along?

@themightyant Do you mean halfway through the first game, or did you give all three a try? I felt similarly about Crash 1 when I first played it, but gave 2 a try anyway, and that was where it really "clicked". 2 was a lot more refined than 1, and it really nailed the platforming "rhythm", you could say.

...though I still think all of Naughty Dog's games are a little overrated (more technically impressive than anything else)!

@Markatron84 IIRC, it's specifically the 60fps option that breaks that section with the sliding platforms, and all higher and lower rates are perfectly fine. You can even run the game without issues at 60 if you uncap it in the game and then cap it using external tools. Or, if you're lazy, just switch to 50 or 30 in that one level.

@EdgarTheBug As I like to say, "It just works... until it doesn't."

I don't know what went wrong with this, though. Old 3 teraflop cards were able to handle Skyrim (in this heavier remastered form) at 60fps with the settings cranked up. This shouldn't even require any careful tweaking or optimization to run well on a docked Switch 2.

Halo 3 is 18 years old, meaning it's in its 19th year. Did it not win the GotY title in 2007, or did they make the all-too-common mistake of forgetting to count the first year?

@somnambulance Implying that he actually plays games?

@BAMozzy Oh, I have no doubt that there are technical challenges involved! IIRC, the Xbone (and possibly Series) has some features that specifically help it with Xbox 360 emulation (handling texture formats or something), which few/no PCs would have. If it is possible to bring BC Xbox games directly to PC, it's likely because any semi-modern PC has enough muscle to brute force the solution, by relying more heavily on software emulation in those areas (with less offloading to hardware).

Much of my previous comment was regarding the licensing side, rather than the technical aspect. I don't know exactly what these companies did, or whether the language in the agreements is broad enough to allow for PC ports, but looking at the results, it's clear that their agreements in the previous gen allowed for the games to be brought over to future hardware with no publisher intervention.

But all that aside, this is still something that I, as a customer, want to see, regardless of whether it can be done!

I hope they eventually do pull this off, and start expanding the BC library again as well.

It's not just about being able to play our old games on new devices, but also about making old classics (and not-so-classics) available for purchase, for those of us who missed them the first time.

There's also the matter of FPS Boost and other enhancements, which make the Series X (and potentially PC) the best way to buy and play games which were previously locked to consoles that could barely run them.

@Gryzor Yeah, it's hard to go back to 30fps. I hear it's even worse if you use an OLED screen.

I picked up Madness Returns anyway, as unlike the Steam version, it comes with American McGee's Alice (the previous game), and that one does run at 60fps!

@BAMozzy I imagine that rights/licensing are the main reason for pretty much any high-profile game that didn't make it onto the Xbox One BC list in the first place.

On the other hand, virtually all XBone titles- including the hundreds of Xbox and X360 BC games- came straight over to the Xbox Series without a hitch, so it would seem that MS negotiated much more open-ended agreements this time around.

See also: PS4 carrying over to PS5, and Switch carrying over to Switch 2, with nearly 100% of their respective libraries being included. Previous gens weren't set up with this in mind, but it seems that companies eventually adapted and set up more forward-thinking or "future-proof" solutions.

While I can't say I'm rushing out to buy the likes of JoJo Siwa: Worldwide Party, I do appreciate the advance notice on the delistings, both from the companies and from Pure Xbox, so thanks!

@Romans12 In that case, happy 50th!

@themightyant

(I) remember thinking "graphics couldn't get any better than this". Lol.

Were you wrong, though?

@Gabrie What would you want them to change/add/improve with the achievement system?

@swedetrap With all of the buzz about how huge GTA6 is, and whether it's worth buying a PS6 for, and whether it'll cost $100 USD, I have to wonder if there's a bit of astroturfing going on.
Is R* (or a company associated with them) trying to hype up their game, and maybe ease us into accepting an inflated price tag?

Obviously, GTA6 is a big deal, and there are lots of real people talking about these things, but something feels a little off, like someone intentionally planted the seeds to get the discourse going.
Or maybe I'm just paranoid! Either way, I agree that it feels a little excessive.

@FraserG Didn't you say the 360 is launching a few weeks from now:

we've got the 20th anniversary of the Xbox 360 in just two weeks' time - a console that first released on November 22nd of 2025

I, for one, can't wait to experience what this upcoming 7th gen has to offer!

@h3s Why not just connect to the Xbox directly using that proprietary standard, then?

EDIT: Did a bit of searching, and this standard is called "Xbox Wireless". MS incorporating the standard into XBone and Series consoles, as well as specific PC models. In general, PCs would presumably be able to connect this controller using Bluetooth (like any other Xbox controller), but would need the adapter to take advantage of Xbox Wireless mode.
Xboxes shouldn't need an adapter, though, so I don't know if there's a mistake somewhere, or just a strange design decision.

Something I don't understand about connectivity: why is a 2.4 GHz dongle needed, unless you're specifically connecting to a PC with no Bluetooth built in?

Don't XBone and Series systems already use Bluetooth for their wireless controllers- and shouldn't this controller be able to connect to an Xbox using that?

All the time! After a decade or two, I tend to forget a lot of the puzzles, story elements, etc., and replaying an old game can almost feel like playing a whole new game! (Just with a nice touch of familiarity.)

I used to replay old favourites like the Marios, Sonics, Zeldas, and Donkey Kongs over and over when I was younger, but not so much these days, as the flow of time has sped up: if I played a game within the last few years, it often feels too recent to bother going back, especially if it's a game I played to death already. And as time goes on, I take longer and longer between play-throughs.

@Kieduss Agreed! If clearing your backlog isn't fun, then why bother? And if replaying an old game is just as fun as playing a new one, then why not?
(I like to do both, for what it's worth- at least 60/40 in favour of new games- as I personally find that this is more enjoyable than forcing myself to only pick from the backlog.)

PS: Just recently started to get decent at REmake. Great game, and I already want to play through it more in the future! Could definitely see myself playing it every few years, at least.

@BAMozzy @MrStark Yeah, that's annoying (though manageable to work around), and I'm sure it's part of MS's efforts to burn as many of your Rewards points as possible without giving anything in return!

Until recently, they had an auto-redeem that would automatically get you a $5 card every month at a discount- obviously not a good choice if you're saving up. And I was also getting bombarded with notifications about entering a draw to win a Series X or whatever- at 200 (or was it 500?) points per entry, of course.

@InheritNegative Haha, I was just thinking that the last screenshot looks like a cross between Perfect Dark Zero and Condemned! It's a bit over-the-top, but I actually like that glossy, bump/normal mapped style.

However, the comparison shot with Denton has that slightly washed-out look: why is it that old games from 2000 and earlier have higher contrast, and then modern remasters always have to make everything a bit flatter and brighter?

Not that this is an especially egregious example, but it's a trend I've noticed, and I don't care for it.

@ScalenePowers I've heard great things about these games, but missed out on them.

What are the chances of the Legends series (inc. Tron Bonne) getting proper NightDive-esque remasters, with HD rendering and 60+ fps?

...eh, maybe I should just buy the bare-bones emulated versions on PS3 while I still can.

@Markatron84 The Game Boy ones were sort of remixes of the NES ones. I have MM3 for Game Boy, and it's like a mix of 3 and 4 on the NES, but with a few elements of its own, IIRC.

There was supposed to be a collection of colourized GB games back on the GBA (to coincide with the release of Mega Man Anniversary Collection on consoles circa 2004), but that was cancelled.

@Deformedpye Series S arguably does, in the sense that it stops developers from making games that run at 720p 30fps (or less) on flagship consoles and mid-range PCs: if a game runs that poorly on them, then it probably won't run on Series S at all!

(Conversely, if a game has to hit at least 720p30 on Series S, then it should automatically look and run decently on better hardware.)

But is that really holding this generation back, or just keeping things in check? Modern consoles aren't limited like the N64, where you could do insane things with game mechanics and level designs, but only at 20fps or lower.

DF gave this the highest praise you can give a UE5 game: "it doesn't look like a UE5 game"!

@Jenkinss Gonna have to disagree there- the campaign was brilliant, bringing some added depth and variety in its mission structures. Not quite System Shock or Deus Ex, but more in that direction than the straightforward action formula of Quake and similar games. And I found the second control scheme (where you aim with the stick and walk with the C buttons) to be very versatile and responsive, almost on par with the dual-stick layout of Halo (etc.), once you get used to it.

But I can understand how the deathmatch mode in particular would seem lame from a PC gamer's perspective at the time, especially with GE making you squint at a 160x120 resolution window updating at an average of 20fps!

@Jenkinss Did you just skim my post, or do you really consider BK and Goldeneye to be "sins"? That was just a list of games which I'm aware had major issues/shake-ups in development- and most of them eventually turned out to be quite good!

If I wanted to list Rare's sins/mismanagement, then yeah, it'd include spending a decade on Kinect and avatars (old and new), followed by a decade working on a single live service game.

Everwild isn't just an isolated incident.
Rare has a 30-year history of long, tumultuous development cycles: Goldeneye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, Star Fox Adventures, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Kameo, and Perfect Dark Zero (I'm probably forgetting some) all had at least one major shake-up: switching to a different console, stalling development before rebuilding the team, and/or turning into a completely different game!

Unfortunately, this is more expensive now than it used to be, and the higher-ups these days may not have the same patience.

I hope O'Connor gets to guide and support- maybe even advocate for- the game studios, as opposed to sitting helplessly while higher-level execs shut everything down.

@TheGameThrifter Hey, didn't you know? Not making games is a big part of their strategy now!