System Shock 2 was really compelling, and it drew me into its world and gameplay systems more than Bioshock did (the latter was still great).
SS1 is pretty rough around the edges by today's standards, though. It'll be great if this remake makes a classic more approachable without sacrificing its core identity- but I still hope to finish the original first!
I still feel like the Controller S is underappreciated (getting neither the praise of the One/Series, nor the nostalgia and mockery of the Duke), but I have to admit that the newer controllers are better overall.
The black and white buttons are fine for what they are, but they can't beat the conveniently-placed bumpers found on everything from the 360 onward.
@Ashadelo An MGS1 re-remake, you mean? You'd think that really would be the ideal place to start, though, seeing as the 2004 remake is still stranded on the GameCube to this day.
Or even the original Metal Gear, since that's the most archaic (for obvious reasons). I know it's not as well-known worldwide as MGS, but you'd think being Solid Snake's debut title and including Big Boss would both be major draws now.
@Sam_TSM I remember the early 2000s, too, how we played Super Smash Bros. (1 and Melee), F-Zero (X and GX), Mario Kart DD, Metroid Prime, Sonic Adventure (2 and DX), Mario Party 5, and countless 8- and 16-bit games of the previous decade or so. All 60fps. And I wasn't even into PC gaming back then, but those who were would have a few things to say as well!
It's fine if you don't notice or care about 60fps (it sure simplifies things!), but many of us do notice and care, and preferred 60fps long before it became a mainstream buzzword.
@Widey85 I've heard accounts like this from a few others, and I find it baffling: your eyes can pick out minute details, but you're less sensitive to motion? I'm close to your age, and I'm the opposite: 60fps every time, no matter the resolution sacrifice, as the smooth motion (or lack thereof) is always noticeable. A 720p TV looks perfectly fine to me, as long as I don't put my face right up to it.
Not a criticism- I just find it interesting and surprising!
@theduckofdeath Wouldn't the "30fps is fine" people be the ones who get left behind?
On a more serious note, the difference between 30 and 60 is something that more people are consciously aware of and vocal about these days- such that the naysayers think that 60fps is some sort of new fad or trend. 60fps was the norm twice before (the pre-3D era, and the 6th gen or "PS2 era"), but it only broke into mainstream awareness just recently. Third time really is the charm!
@Widey85 Fortunately, you do get smaller bonuses every few weeks until you work up to the 20-week streak. If I'm not mistaken, it's the same amount, but spread out over a few milestones. (Something like 250+500+750+1000.)
@SplooshDmg Not sure how several companies have made this exact mistake, instead of learning from each other. Fans: "Give us a sequel to [great game]!" Company: "Okay, here's a lame mobile/pachinko thing, which is based on [great game]."
@Banjo- I would've said to press View, but if that just opens the general settings, then I have no idea. I wonder if the UI for per-game configs isn't there yet, or if it's just hidden well.
@Banjo- I hear ya. Grew up with Nintendo (and Sega, to a lesser extent), but was driven away by their decisions- first creative, and now business. Ah, well, still lots of great stuff out there!
On desktop Dolphin, you'd right-click the game and open its Properties. Then go to the AR Codes tab and paste in the new code, along with a descriptive name. Make sure that code has a check box in the list after you've created it, and also make sure your main Dolphin settings have "Enable Cheats" checked. It should be a similar process on Series X, now that it has a proper GUI, but I haven't used it.
@Banjo- This Action Replay code makes the Wii version run at 60fps: 04773008 00000000
I'm not sure that the tech itself is the reason for the change in licensing, as opposed to some wording around the platform definitions, but yeah, MS (and Sony) clearly did something different this past gen, ensuring that the games would carry forward. I figure that the PS3/360/Wii distribution agreements were all made around those specific systems, but MS and Sony decided to future-proof their stores with broader licensing terms the second time around. Meanwhile, Nintendo just kept on doing what they were doing, and now all of the Wii U and 3DS stuff is gone.
@shoeses Different platforms do have different contracts, at least as far as the game rights themselves are concerned. Like how all of the Xbox One games (including the BC library) transferred straight over to Xbox Series consoles without renegotiation, whereas the OG/360 titles had to be negotiated and added individually to get them on the Xbone in the first place... despite already being available on the Xbox 360 store in many cases!
I am just speculating, but I do find it surprising already that Sonic & Sega Racing is still available, considering its soundtrack, and it seems like that could be a tricky area to work with.
@Banjo- The native PC port looks great, though it doesn't have Banjo and Kazooie. You could also try running the Wii version in Dolphin. Its graphics aren't as good as the PC/360 versions, but it still looks nice in 1080p or 4K with the 60fps code. (This does require a fairly beefy CPU, but I think the Series X or equivalent is up to the task.)
And yes, Microsoft's engineers getting Xbox 360 (or even original Xbox) games to run at full speed or better on the Xbox One is some incredible technical wizardry, and not something I would have thought possible!
@shoeses Yeah, there's definitely more than licensing going on there, as I heard from someone who was trying to get their games included in the BC program. MS seemingly wasn't interested in bringing just any/every title over. Again, hoping they change their minds!
I didn't realize so many games were being delisted. That's a shame.
You mentioned Sonic and Sega- it, specifically, could have some issues around music: namely, the licensed tracks in the Samba de Amigo stages, as well as whatever caused Sega to replace all of the music in HotD Remake.
@shoeses Here's hoping MS will backpedal on that, especially considering the limited number of OG Xbox games that made it over.
Backwards compatibility is a lot of what I buy/play now, and is one of the main reasons that the Series X looks so appealing. (Almost everything from the past 10 years is better on PC anyway, so the chance to play true console exclusives from back in the day, often at 60fps, is a real draw!)
And hey, while we're dreaming, might as well put in a request for more FPS boost titles via simple RAM patches- this would open up a whole bunch more games which didn't work with the current method.
@NorthwestEagle Right, a full-blown Series S inside an OG Xbox shell makes sense as a collector's item and as a proper gaming console.
I really doubt that original hardware would be practical at this point, though, whether that's the OG Xbox or the 360. They both rely on very old hardware, and would probably cost far more to make than a One S or even a Series S. (Notice that basically no one else does this- existing retro consoles are all based on emulators or FPGAs.)
And it would be pointless to sell a dedicated emulation box like the NES Classic Mini, as that would require Xbox One hardware at a bare minimum- at which point, you might as well just make it a proper One/Series console.
So yeah, more BC is the way to go. There are still some great games that got left behind for whatever reason, and they deserve another chance!
What would this be, under the hood? A One S, or maybe a cut down Series S?
It makes no sense to have a dedicated Xbox emulator box, but I'm all for reopening the BC program and adding more OG and 360 games, so they can be bought and played on One/Series consoles.
@LoquaciousB I've found that there's a delay, but the free entries will often show up if you go back later. Similarly, it's really bad about recognizing achievements that I've gotten in the past hour, but it works if I try again later- even though it might still show "0/3", it gives the points.
@GuyinPA75 I figure that they're trying to encourage player engagement, but yeah, it can be counterproductive for those of us who don't spend hours gaming on Xbox every week.
I was pretty good at timing things so I could score 3+ achievements every two-week cycle, keeping some easy Halo ones in my back pocket in case I ran out of time. But then it all went wrong on week 70 or 80 ($2.50 down the drain), so I just abandoned the program for the foreseeable future. It'll take longer to save up points, but it's freeing at the same time!
@NarutosBiggestFan Series X has that, too? I always assumed it was just my One S being a One S.
The Rewards app on Xbox is really bad overall. Not only is it slow and laggy, but it's buggy (it doesn't acknowledge/display recent achievements, among other issues), and it always redirects to Bing, the store, etc., even when the reward conditions have been fulfilled.
@Stoned_Patrol I agree that the complaints about multiple SKUs seem strange and unwarranted, considering the same games have to run on PC.
However, Series S sometimes is the lowest-spec machine: a few PC games now have minimum specs above those of the S.
It's admittedly a lot less common for consoles- even the S- to fall short of minimum PC specs these days, compared to about 3-5 years ago. But it does happen.
No, this is too soon. Xbox One and PS4 were technically unimpressive from the start, and usually had to settle for 30fps to get a decent level of fidelity.
Series X and PS5 had a much better start, and have been able to run most games smoothly without sacrificing too much visually. No, they can't do max graphics + 4K + ray tracing + 120fps all at once, but sacrifices will ALWAYS have to be made, regardless of hardware. Once you have a machine that can do all of the above, someone will come up with new games that bring it to its knees all over again.
It is a little concerning that we're seeing 30fps games again, however, and the calls for truly "next-gen" experiences probably aren't helping. If more games are going to be technically compromised like this, then we will need a mid-gen refresh.
Both Left 4 Dead games are still available for cheap, and they run at 4K 120fps (and beyond) on PC, so a remaster doesn't seem all that meaningful.
I've always been interested in Simpsons: Hit & Run- and @Clyde_Radcliffe's suggestion above sounds great: a collection could bring back the '90s arcade game, both '00s driving games, Krusty's Fun House, the movie one, etc.
PGR 1 was gorgeous (if a little frustrating at times), but the sequels are all capped at 30fps, which is a big turnoff. I voted Simpsons, but I think PGR is objectively the series that needs a remaster the most.
@shoeses The roadblock no doubt comes from the games' own publishers in many cases, like you mentioned (upcoming remasters, licensing issues, etc.). But I can confirm that Microsoft chooses not to pursue some games for back compat, despite the publishers' own wishes- I heard directly from a rights holder who pushed for MS to include their OG Xbox games, but got turned down for unknown reasons.
I know MS has officially stopped adding to the back compat and FPS Boost programs, but I hope they revisit them anyway. BC games make up a big portion of my library, and I'm not just talking old discs that I carried over- I actually still shop in their online store for Xbox and X360 games.
@Darylb88 Yeah, that's not great. I believe MS's usual policy is to allow games (that you own physically or digitally- not GamePass, of course) to work offline indefinitely on your "home" console, but this hasn't always been as consistent as it should be. I had issues starting up recently-updated games offline a while back, for one.
However, some improvements were made last year, which should allow most games to play or even install from disc while offline, even if Quick Resume may not factor into that. (YouTuber MVG did a couple of videos investigating and describing this.)
@Darylb88 Really? That must be for verification purposes, or something, as it makes no sense that the internet would actually be used for intensive things like Quick Resume.
Even the old Xbox One can pull over 100 MB of data from its (annoyingly slow) hard drive per second. Meanwhile, many people's internet connections are 15 MB/s (120 Megabits/s) or less- if you're in a rural area, probably 625 KB/s (5 Mb/s, or about 1/8 the speed of the PS2's DVD drive!). Not enough to do any real data crunching or loading, yet their Xbox games still play.
PS: If you know of specific cases where anything resembling heavy lifting actually is done via the internet, let me know!
PPS: I'm in Canada, so you may have better results, depending on where you live. Still not multiple gigabytes per second like the Series S|X does, though!
@cornholio005 You might be onto something. The Switch version isn't overclocked, so it rarely hits 60fps. It could be overclocked for consistent performance, but that would make the guns fire too quickly. This firing bug is something Code Mystics could fix on Xbox, but it's not likely that anyone on Nintendo's side would do the same- and so, the Xbox version would be considerably better.
@Feffster It's strange, because the original N64 version was unlocked, and could hit 60fps in a few specific scenarios. (Of course, any Xbox system would be able to effortlessly maintain 60fps with no dips!) This version actually had a 30fps cap added.
Really hoping they patch this, as there's currently no reason for me to play this one over the other options (seeing as I have the original).
@Chaotic_Goat I don't get it. This game already tried to run at 60fps on N64 (even if it rarely hit that target), so the porting team had to go out of their way to cap it at 30fps.
I'm really glad to see this classic brought back for more people to play, but this is looking like a pretty rough port. Sort of a Tales of Symphonia situation all over again.
@NintendoByNature Yes, but apparently only with digital copies? Oh well, the entire Rare Replay goes on sale for something like $7, so Goldeneye on its own can't be too expensive, I'd think/hope.
@Banjo- I hate to say this now, but did you know that Rare Replay includes sensible controls for Jet Force Gemini? You have to go into the options and choose the "Advanced" control scheme. Basically, it allows you to have dual-stick aim in aiming mode, but normal platform controls outside of that. (The vanilla N64 version included this option already, but it was a weird southpaw setup like Turok, which doesn't translate well to an Xbox controller.)
If you took issue with the aiming for any other reason, then disregard!
@Prizm I was poking fun- I'd initially taken you for someone who thinks 50 is old. I guess you were thinking of more of a "Karen" stereotype, as opposed to a "Granny" stereotype?
Seriously, though, I wouldn't mind if Crystal Dynamics continues with the same Lara (current, original, or Legend!) for a long time, instead of feeling the need to reboot everything and make her younger again. Actually, that could go for a lot of franchises, now that I think of it.
@NEStalgia So you've seen firsthand how 30fps is worse on some displays than others? I've heard things like this, but never fully understood it, due to my limited experience with new screens.
I've observed how CRTs have extremely crisp motion, where 60fps looks unbelievably, perfectly smooth, and 30fps looks like double vision. And then LCDs narrow the gap a bit, as the blur makes 60fps look less impressive, and I suppose it covers up a bit of the judder of 30fps as well. (And some LCD TVs make all fast motion look like quintuple vision or something.) But overdrive actually makes 30fps even worse somehow?
By the way, I find that N64 games at 30fps are easier on the eyes than modern games at the same rate, but I've only encountered maybe one other person who noticed this.
@Titntin Ah, I get where you're coming from now. While I'd maintain that there will never be a true plateau where people run out of ways to slow down the performance- er, I mean, add cool features- it is interesting to think about the progression of tech in absolute terms. Because yes, things are always changing, and what's new will eventually be old (relative to the newer stuff), but progress is being made. Text used to be an issue, back in the days of 2 MB ROMs. Non-issue now. Same deal for audio, even in the CD era. Again, largely a non-issue. Large, open spaces were difficult on N64 and near impossible before that. But even that is trivial now, as long as RT and whatnot are kept out of it. So I agree that all of the things you mentioned (4K, RT, good AI, etc.) will be achievable at the same time someday... in the hands of skilled devs, at least! Of course, there'll always be something new: 8K, 3D/VR, full sand and gravel physics, hair/cloth physics that actually work without glitches, etc. etc.
@Titntin If we're not there yet, then we never will be! It always has been, and always will be, up to the devs to make 60fps happen on any given hardware, and there will always be the option for them to push the graphics/features too far (unless a 60fps option is mandated by the console makers).
If there was ever a time that 60fps wasn't a realistic target, it was before the Dreamcast came out, as 3D games had to keep their poly counts to a bare minimum to achieve 60. Back then, this actually compromised the gameplay itself, as 60fps games had to be very linear or simple in scope. Free-roaming stuff simply wasn't possible without sacrificing performance.
Note that Harry isn't actually saying that this happened, but that it's a story about him that gets repeated all the time.
He probably got a Nintendo 64 or PlayStation in 1997, but the story about it has been corrupted by decades of broken telephone. Though it's fair to say he's probably not a 1337 True Gamer™ if he doesn't remember whether the story is accurate.
I understand that patching the games themselves opens a small can of worms: recertifying everything, etc. But I wonder what the implications are of leaving the game as-is, while simply patching the numbers in RAM. Modders have successfully brought countless old N64/PS2/etc games up to 60fps using this method, and in many cases, it involves changing a single digit!
The last-gen footage here is noticeably blurry and compressed, which makes the 2015 release look bad. I played the game in 900p, and it was still a lot more detailed than what we're seeing here. Are they using footage from the Switch version, or did they just rip it from a 720p YouTube video?
(To be clear, I'm not going by memory here- I'm looking at screenshots that I took while playing. The scene with Radovid looks just like the "next-gen" in the video, not the 2015.)
Am I the only one who sees the wire as a plus? No batteries needed, and it can switch between my PC and Xbone in an instant, with no pairing necessary.
Sonic Adventure 1. Sure, it's showing its age, and it has some '90s 3D jank, but it was an ambitious and interesting take on the series, and I feel that it captured the essence of 2D Sonic better than any game since then. (SA2 was good, but it took two steps forward, and two steps back.)
The modern "boost" gameplay of Generations, etc., is slick and polished, but it's so limited. It's like the Call of Duty to Sonic Adventure's Goldeneye.
PS: If you want to play SA1 now, make sure to get the Steam version and install the mod launcher. That way, you can get the superior Dreamcast version's graphics, without giving up the technical and quality-of-life improvements from later releases.
I actually like the idea of an optional 1080p cap, as it could offer better performance in some games, with no noticeable downsides to those of us with plain old HD screens. No way would I accept having this stuff turned on automatically, though (also see: Texas thermostat fiasco).
Also, turning down the graphics on our games to save a bit of power might feel good, but it isn't realistically going to help the earth in any way. And if you live in a region with a broken billing system on electricity usage, it might not save you money, either!
Really glad to see that they're considering this, and that they're gathering feedback so intentionally.
I'm curious to hear what you guys thought about the questions regarding inspiration from other media: that is, which other games/movies/etc. have the kind of tone or gameplay style we want to see from the Legacy of Kain series.
PS: I know it's not on modern Xbox consoles, but the whole series can be had for a few bucks on PC- minus Soul Reaver at the moment, which has been temporarily delisted to allow for "some important updates", interestingly enough.
@blockfight Sounds like you've got some catching up to do, then! Unless you really don't care for older games. The N64-era stuff is arguably the big highlight of Rare Replay, and of Rare itself.
@NoLifeDGenerate Clunky controls are a game design matter, and have nothing to do with the underlying tech (RE Engine, UE4, etc.). Unless you're talking about poor performance, which I hear is an issue in some versions of RE2/3 and especially DR4.
That said, Platinum has made an engine that can pull off 60fps on potato hardware, so that is something worth licensing out. Imagine if Game Freak borrowed a high-performing rendering engine like that, for example!
@BartoxTharglod There's noticeable slowdown in FZX, seriously? Think it might be worse than on the real N64? (I remember the performance on original hardware being pretty consistent most of the time, and it hasn't been all that long since I last played it.)
It's difficult to perfectly mimic the original console's performance, so emulators usually run a little better than the original, and that includes Goldeneye... so I would've expected that you'll see a small improvement on Switch. But then, this is Switch Online, and your mention of FZX doesn't bode well. Maybe GE will manage to run worse than the original. (And you're almost definitely right that they won't put in the small effort it'd take to get a consistent 60fps.)
I've found that using the 1.2 Solitaire scheme with the N64's main stick mapped to the Xbox's right stick works pretty well, though menus are a bit weird to navigate that way... I'd hope that they'll make some tweaks, but we'll see!
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Re: System Shock Remake Hits PC Today, Xbox Version Coming 'In Due Course'
System Shock 2 was really compelling, and it drew me into its world and gameplay systems more than Bioshock did (the latter was still great).
SS1 is pretty rough around the edges by today's standards, though. It'll be great if this remake makes a classic more approachable without sacrificing its core identity- but I still hope to finish the original first!
Re: Poll: Which Xbox Console Had The Best Controller?
I still feel like the Controller S is underappreciated (getting neither the praise of the One/Series, nor the nostalgia and mockery of the Duke), but I have to admit that the newer controllers are better overall.
The black and white buttons are fine for what they are, but they can't beat the conveniently-placed bumpers found on everything from the 360 onward.
Re: Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Is Reportedly Coming To Xbox After All
@Ashadelo An MGS1 re-remake, you mean?
You'd think that really would be the ideal place to start, though, seeing as the 2004 remake is still stranded on the GameCube to this day.
Or even the original Metal Gear, since that's the most archaic (for obvious reasons). I know it's not as well-known worldwide as MGS, but you'd think being Solid Snake's debut title and including Big Boss would both be major draws now.
Re: Redfall Will Only Run At 30FPS When It Launches On Xbox Series X And S
@Sam_TSM I remember the early 2000s, too, how we played Super Smash Bros. (1 and Melee), F-Zero (X and GX), Mario Kart DD, Metroid Prime, Sonic Adventure (2 and DX), Mario Party 5, and countless 8- and 16-bit games of the previous decade or so. All 60fps. And I wasn't even into PC gaming back then, but those who were would have a few things to say as well!
It's fine if you don't notice or care about 60fps (it sure simplifies things!), but many of us do notice and care, and preferred 60fps long before it became a mainstream buzzword.
Re: Redfall Will Only Run At 30FPS When It Launches On Xbox Series X And S
@Widey85 I've heard accounts like this from a few others, and I find it baffling: your eyes can pick out minute details, but you're less sensitive to motion? I'm close to your age, and I'm the opposite: 60fps every time, no matter the resolution sacrifice, as the smooth motion (or lack thereof) is always noticeable.
A 720p TV looks perfectly fine to me, as long as I don't put my face right up to it.
Not a criticism- I just find it interesting and surprising!
Re: Redfall Will Only Run At 30FPS When It Launches On Xbox Series X And S
@theduckofdeath Wouldn't the "30fps is fine" people be the ones who get left behind?
On a more serious note, the difference between 30 and 60 is something that more people are consciously aware of and vocal about these days- such that the naysayers think that 60fps is some sort of new fad or trend. 60fps was the norm twice before (the pre-3D era, and the 6th gen or "PS2 era"), but it only broke into mainstream awareness just recently. Third time really is the charm!
Re: New Microsoft Rewards 'Custom' Feature Could Have Major Benefits For Xbox Users
@Widey85 Fortunately, you do get smaller bonuses every few weeks until you work up to the 20-week streak. If I'm not mistaken, it's the same amount, but spread out over a few milestones.
(Something like 250+500+750+1000.)
Re: Leaked Clips Of Two Classic SEGA Remakes Appear Online
@SplooshDmg Not sure how several companies have made this exact mistake, instead of learning from each other.
Fans: "Give us a sequel to [great game]!"
Company: "Okay, here's a lame mobile/pachinko thing, which is based on [great game]."
Re: This Week's Xbox Charts Show The Power Of Backwards Compatibility
@Banjo- I would've said to press View, but if that just opens the general settings, then I have no idea.
I wonder if the UI for per-game configs isn't there yet, or if it's just hidden well.
Re: This Week's Xbox Charts Show The Power Of Backwards Compatibility
@Banjo- I hear ya. Grew up with Nintendo (and Sega, to a lesser extent), but was driven away by their decisions- first creative, and now business. Ah, well, still lots of great stuff out there!
On desktop Dolphin, you'd right-click the game and open its Properties.
Then go to the AR Codes tab and paste in the new code, along with a descriptive name.
Make sure that code has a check box in the list after you've created it, and also make sure your main Dolphin settings have "Enable Cheats" checked.
It should be a similar process on Series X, now that it has a proper GUI, but I haven't used it.
Re: This Week's Xbox Charts Show The Power Of Backwards Compatibility
@Banjo- This Action Replay code makes the Wii version run at 60fps:
04773008 00000000
I'm not sure that the tech itself is the reason for the change in licensing, as opposed to some wording around the platform definitions, but yeah, MS (and Sony) clearly did something different this past gen, ensuring that the games would carry forward. I figure that the PS3/360/Wii distribution agreements were all made around those specific systems, but MS and Sony decided to future-proof their stores with broader licensing terms the second time around.
Meanwhile, Nintendo just kept on doing what they were doing, and now all of the Wii U and 3DS stuff is gone.
Re: This Week's Xbox Charts Show The Power Of Backwards Compatibility
@shoeses Different platforms do have different contracts, at least as far as the game rights themselves are concerned. Like how all of the Xbox One games (including the BC library) transferred straight over to Xbox Series consoles without renegotiation, whereas the OG/360 titles had to be negotiated and added individually to get them on the Xbone in the first place... despite already being available on the Xbox 360 store in many cases!
I am just speculating, but I do find it surprising already that Sonic & Sega Racing is still available, considering its soundtrack, and it seems like that could be a tricky area to work with.
Re: This Week's Xbox Charts Show The Power Of Backwards Compatibility
@Banjo- The native PC port looks great, though it doesn't have Banjo and Kazooie. You could also try running the Wii version in Dolphin. Its graphics aren't as good as the PC/360 versions, but it still looks nice in 1080p or 4K with the 60fps code. (This does require a fairly beefy CPU, but I think the Series X or equivalent is up to the task.)
And yes, Microsoft's engineers getting Xbox 360 (or even original Xbox) games to run at full speed or better on the Xbox One is some incredible technical wizardry, and not something I would have thought possible!
Re: This Week's Xbox Charts Show The Power Of Backwards Compatibility
@shoeses Yeah, there's definitely more than licensing going on there, as I heard from someone who was trying to get their games included in the BC program. MS seemingly wasn't interested in bringing just any/every title over. Again, hoping they change their minds!
I didn't realize so many games were being delisted. That's a shame.
You mentioned Sonic and Sega- it, specifically, could have some issues around music: namely, the licensed tracks in the Samba de Amigo stages, as well as whatever caused Sega to replace all of the music in HotD Remake.
Re: This Week's Xbox Charts Show The Power Of Backwards Compatibility
@shoeses Here's hoping MS will backpedal on that, especially considering the limited number of OG Xbox games that made it over.
Backwards compatibility is a lot of what I buy/play now, and is one of the main reasons that the Series X looks so appealing. (Almost everything from the past 10 years is better on PC anyway, so the chance to play true console exclusives from back in the day, often at 60fps, is a real draw!)
And hey, while we're dreaming, might as well put in a request for more FPS boost titles via simple RAM patches- this would open up a whole bunch more games which didn't work with the current method.
Re: Best Resident Evil Games Ranked - Which Mainline Entry Is Number One?
Why is there only "Resident Evil", with no way to choose the original or the remake?
Re: Xbox Co-Creator Reveals He Talked To Microsoft About Classic Console Idea
@NorthwestEagle Right, a full-blown Series S inside an OG Xbox shell makes sense as a collector's item and as a proper gaming console.
I really doubt that original hardware would be practical at this point, though, whether that's the OG Xbox or the 360. They both rely on very old hardware, and would probably cost far more to make than a One S or even a Series S. (Notice that basically no one else does this- existing retro consoles are all based on emulators or FPGAs.)
And it would be pointless to sell a dedicated emulation box like the NES Classic Mini, as that would require Xbox One hardware at a bare minimum- at which point, you might as well just make it a proper One/Series console.
So yeah, more BC is the way to go. There are still some great games that got left behind for whatever reason, and they deserve another chance!
Re: Xbox Co-Creator Reveals He Talked To Microsoft About Classic Console Idea
What would this be, under the hood? A One S, or maybe a cut down Series S?
It makes no sense to have a dedicated Xbox emulator box, but I'm all for reopening the BC program and adding more OG and 360 games, so they can be bought and played on One/Series consoles.
Re: Xbox Makes Changes To Microsoft Rewards Following 'Tracking' Issues
@LoquaciousB I've found that there's a delay, but the free entries will often show up if you go back later.
Similarly, it's really bad about recognizing achievements that I've gotten in the past hour, but it works if I try again later- even though it might still show "0/3", it gives the points.
Re: Xbox Makes Changes To Microsoft Rewards Following 'Tracking' Issues
@GuyinPA75 I figure that they're trying to encourage player engagement, but yeah, it can be counterproductive for those of us who don't spend hours gaming on Xbox every week.
I was pretty good at timing things so I could score 3+ achievements every two-week cycle, keeping some easy Halo ones in my back pocket in case I ran out of time. But then it all went wrong on week 70 or 80 ($2.50 down the drain), so I just abandoned the program for the foreseeable future. It'll take longer to save up points, but it's freeing at the same time!
Re: Xbox Makes Changes To Microsoft Rewards Following 'Tracking' Issues
@NarutosBiggestFan Series X has that, too? I always assumed it was just my One S being a One S.
The Rewards app on Xbox is really bad overall. Not only is it slow and laggy, but it's buggy (it doesn't acknowledge/display recent achievements, among other issues), and it always redirects to Bing, the store, etc., even when the reward conditions have been fulfilled.
Re: Reaction: Should Xbox Produce A Mid-Gen Upgrade If Sony Launches 'PS5 Pro'?
@Stoned_Patrol I agree that the complaints about multiple SKUs seem strange and unwarranted, considering the same games have to run on PC.
However, Series S sometimes is the lowest-spec machine: a few PC games now have minimum specs above those of the S.
It's admittedly a lot less common for consoles- even the S- to fall short of minimum PC specs these days, compared to about 3-5 years ago. But it does happen.
Re: Reaction: Should Xbox Produce A Mid-Gen Upgrade If Sony Launches 'PS5 Pro'?
No, this is too soon.
Xbox One and PS4 were technically unimpressive from the start, and usually had to settle for 30fps to get a decent level of fidelity.
Series X and PS5 had a much better start, and have been able to run most games smoothly without sacrificing too much visually. No, they can't do max graphics + 4K + ray tracing + 120fps all at once, but sacrifices will ALWAYS have to be made, regardless of hardware. Once you have a machine that can do all of the above, someone will come up with new games that bring it to its knees all over again.
It is a little concerning that we're seeing 30fps games again, however, and the calls for truly "next-gen" experiences probably aren't helping. If more games are going to be technically compromised like this, then we will need a mid-gen refresh.
Re: Pick One: Which Of These Xbox Classics Would You Remaster?
Both Left 4 Dead games are still available for cheap, and they run at 4K 120fps (and beyond) on PC, so a remaster doesn't seem all that meaningful.
I've always been interested in Simpsons: Hit & Run- and @Clyde_Radcliffe's suggestion above sounds great: a collection could bring back the '90s arcade game, both '00s driving games, Krusty's Fun House, the movie one, etc.
PGR 1 was gorgeous (if a little frustrating at times), but the sequels are all capped at 30fps, which is a big turnoff. I voted Simpsons, but I think PGR is objectively the series that needs a remaster the most.
Re: Talking Point: What Happened To Xbox's 'Resolution Boost' Program?
@shoeses The roadblock no doubt comes from the games' own publishers in many cases, like you mentioned (upcoming remasters, licensing issues, etc.). But I can confirm that Microsoft chooses not to pursue some games for back compat, despite the publishers' own wishes- I heard directly from a rights holder who pushed for MS to include their OG Xbox games, but got turned down for unknown reasons.
I know MS has officially stopped adding to the back compat and FPS Boost programs, but I hope they revisit them anyway. BC games make up a big portion of my library, and I'm not just talking old discs that I carried over- I actually still shop in their online store for Xbox and X360 games.
Re: Redfall Requires 'Persistent' Online Connection Even In Single-Player
@Darylb88 Yeah, that's not great.
I believe MS's usual policy is to allow games (that you own physically or digitally- not GamePass, of course) to work offline indefinitely on your "home" console, but this hasn't always been as consistent as it should be. I had issues starting up recently-updated games offline a while back, for one.
However, some improvements were made last year, which should allow most games to play or even install from disc while offline, even if Quick Resume may not factor into that. (YouTuber MVG did a couple of videos investigating and describing this.)
Re: Redfall Requires 'Persistent' Online Connection Even In Single-Player
@Darylb88 Really? That must be for verification purposes, or something, as it makes no sense that the internet would actually be used for intensive things like Quick Resume.
Even the old Xbox One can pull over 100 MB of data from its (annoyingly slow) hard drive per second.
Meanwhile, many people's internet connections are 15 MB/s (120 Megabits/s) or less- if you're in a rural area, probably 625 KB/s (5 Mb/s, or about 1/8 the speed of the PS2's DVD drive!). Not enough to do any real data crunching or loading, yet their Xbox games still play.
PS: If you know of specific cases where anything resembling heavy lifting actually is done via the internet, let me know!
PPS: I'm in Canada, so you may have better results, depending on where you live. Still not multiple gigabytes per second like the Series S|X does, though!
Re: GoldenEye 007 Dev Responds To Lack Of 60FPS And Online Multiplayer In Xbox Version
@cornholio005 You might be onto something. The Switch version isn't overclocked, so it rarely hits 60fps. It could be overclocked for consistent performance, but that would make the guns fire too quickly. This firing bug is something Code Mystics could fix on Xbox, but it's not likely that anyone on Nintendo's side would do the same- and so, the Xbox version would be considerably better.
Re: Hands On: Our First Impressions Of GoldenEye 007 On Xbox Game Pass
@Feffster It's strange, because the original N64 version was unlocked, and could hit 60fps in a few specific scenarios. (Of course, any Xbox system would be able to effortlessly maintain 60fps with no dips!) This version actually had a 30fps cap added.
Really hoping they patch this, as there's currently no reason for me to play this one over the other options (seeing as I have the original).
Re: It's Time! GoldenEye 007 Is Now Available With Xbox Game Pass
@Chaotic_Goat I don't get it. This game already tried to run at 60fps on N64 (even if it rarely hit that target), so the porting team had to go out of their way to cap it at 30fps.
I'm really glad to see this classic brought back for more people to play, but this is looking like a pretty rough port. Sort of a Tales of Symphonia situation all over again.
Re: GoldenEye 007 Officially Arrives On Xbox Game Pass This Week
@NintendoByNature Yes, but apparently only with digital copies?
Oh well, the entire Rare Replay goes on sale for something like $7, so Goldeneye on its own can't be too expensive, I'd think/hope.
Re: GoldenEye 007 Officially Arrives On Xbox Game Pass This Week
@Banjo- I hate to say this now, but did you know that Rare Replay includes sensible controls for Jet Force Gemini? You have to go into the options and choose the "Advanced" control scheme. Basically, it allows you to have dual-stick aim in aiming mode, but normal platform controls outside of that.
(The vanilla N64 version included this option already, but it was a weird southpaw setup like Turok, which doesn't translate well to an Xbox controller.)
If you took issue with the aiming for any other reason, then disregard!
Re: GoldenEye 007 Officially Arrives On Xbox Game Pass This Week
@Kaloudz Xenia Onatopp? She always did enjoy a good squeeze.
Re: PowerWash Simulator Is Getting Free Tomb Raider DLC On Xbox Game Pass
@Prizm I was poking fun- I'd initially taken you for someone who thinks 50 is old.
I guess you were thinking of more of a "Karen" stereotype, as opposed to a "Granny" stereotype?
Seriously, though, I wouldn't mind if Crystal Dynamics continues with the same Lara (current, original, or Legend!) for a long time, instead of feeling the need to reboot everything and make her younger again. Actually, that could go for a lot of franchises, now that I think of it.
Re: PowerWash Simulator Is Getting Free Tomb Raider DLC On Xbox Game Pass
@Prizm Only mid fifties- not exactly elderly by any stretch.
(Found the teenager/uni student!)
Re: PowerWash Simulator Is Getting Free Tomb Raider DLC On Xbox Game Pass
@Sebatrox Haven't you seen enough?
Re: Capcom Confirms Visual Specs For All Xbox Versions Of Monster Hunter Rise
@NEStalgia So you've seen firsthand how 30fps is worse on some displays than others? I've heard things like this, but never fully understood it, due to my limited experience with new screens.
I've observed how CRTs have extremely crisp motion, where 60fps looks unbelievably, perfectly smooth, and 30fps looks like double vision. And then LCDs narrow the gap a bit, as the blur makes 60fps look less impressive, and I suppose it covers up a bit of the judder of 30fps as well. (And some LCD TVs make all fast motion look like quintuple vision or something.) But overdrive actually makes 30fps even worse somehow?
By the way, I find that N64 games at 30fps are easier on the eyes than modern games at the same rate, but I've only encountered maybe one other person who noticed this.
Re: Capcom Confirms Visual Specs For All Xbox Versions Of Monster Hunter Rise
@Titntin Ah, I get where you're coming from now.
While I'd maintain that there will never be a true plateau where people run out of ways to slow down the performance- er, I mean, add cool features- it is interesting to think about the progression of tech in absolute terms. Because yes, things are always changing, and what's new will eventually be old (relative to the newer stuff), but progress is being made. Text used to be an issue, back in the days of 2 MB ROMs. Non-issue now. Same deal for audio, even in the CD era. Again, largely a non-issue. Large, open spaces were difficult on N64 and near impossible before that. But even that is trivial now, as long as RT and whatnot are kept out of it.
So I agree that all of the things you mentioned (4K, RT, good AI, etc.) will be achievable at the same time someday... in the hands of skilled devs, at least! Of course, there'll always be something new: 8K, 3D/VR, full sand and gravel physics, hair/cloth physics that actually work without glitches, etc. etc.
Re: Capcom Confirms Visual Specs For All Xbox Versions Of Monster Hunter Rise
@Titntin If we're not there yet, then we never will be!
It always has been, and always will be, up to the devs to make 60fps happen on any given hardware, and there will always be the option for them to push the graphics/features too far (unless a 60fps option is mandated by the console makers).
If there was ever a time that 60fps wasn't a realistic target, it was before the Dreamcast came out, as 3D games had to keep their poly counts to a bare minimum to achieve 60. Back then, this actually compromised the gameplay itself, as 60fps games had to be very linear or simple in scope. Free-roaming stuff simply wasn't possible without sacrificing performance.
Re: Random: Prince Harry Makes Headlines With Story About Diana Buying Him An Xbox
Note that Harry isn't actually saying that this happened, but that it's a story about him that gets repeated all the time.
He probably got a Nintendo 64 or PlayStation in 1997, but the story about it has been corrupted by decades of broken telephone. Though it's fair to say he's probably not a 1337 True Gamer™ if he doesn't remember whether the story is accurate.
Re: Six Xbox Games We Wish Had Received An FPS Boost
I understand that patching the games themselves opens a small can of worms: recertifying everything, etc.
But I wonder what the implications are of leaving the game as-is, while simply patching the numbers in RAM.
Modders have successfully brought countless old N64/PS2/etc games up to 60fps using this method, and in many cases, it involves changing a single digit!
Re: The Witcher 3 Next-Gen Looks Even More Impressive In Side-By-Side Comparison
The last-gen footage here is noticeably blurry and compressed, which makes the 2015 release look bad. I played the game in 900p, and it was still a lot more detailed than what we're seeing here. Are they using footage from the Switch version, or did they just rip it from a 720p YouTube video?
(To be clear, I'm not going by memory here- I'm looking at screenshots that I took while playing. The scene with Radovid looks just like the "next-gen" in the video, not the 2015.)
Re: Xbox 360 Controllers Are Officially Coming Back Thanks To Hyperkin
Am I the only one who sees the wire as a plus?
No batteries needed, and it can switch between my PC and Xbone in an instant, with no pairing necessary.
Maybe I'm old-school. Or just old.
Re: Pick One: Which Is The Best 3D Sonic Game To Date?
Sonic Adventure 1. Sure, it's showing its age, and it has some '90s 3D jank, but it was an ambitious and interesting take on the series, and I feel that it captured the essence of 2D Sonic better than any game since then. (SA2 was good, but it took two steps forward, and two steps back.)
The modern "boost" gameplay of Generations, etc., is slick and polished, but it's so limited. It's like the Call of Duty to Sonic Adventure's Goldeneye.
PS: If you want to play SA1 now, make sure to get the Steam version and install the mod launcher. That way, you can get the superior Dreamcast version's graphics, without giving up the technical and quality-of-life improvements from later releases.
Re: Microsoft Exploring New Graphics Options To Reduce Power Consumption On Xbox
I actually like the idea of an optional 1080p cap, as it could offer better performance in some games, with no noticeable downsides to those of us with plain old HD screens.
No way would I accept having this stuff turned on automatically, though (also see: Texas thermostat fiasco).
Also, turning down the graphics on our games to save a bit of power might feel good, but it isn't realistically going to help the earth in any way. And if you live in a region with a broken billing system on electricity usage, it might not save you money, either!
Re: 'Evil West' Looks Like The Cowboy Vampire Mashup We Didn't Know We Needed
"The Cowboy Vampire Mashup We Didn't Know We Needed"
So basically, a modern Darkwatch?
(@ZYDIO, I see you noticed the similarity as well!)
Re: 'Legacy Of Kain' Survey Quizzes Fans About Potential Franchise Return
Really glad to see that they're considering this, and that they're gathering feedback so intentionally.
I'm curious to hear what you guys thought about the questions regarding inspiration from other media: that is, which other games/movies/etc. have the kind of tone or gameplay style we want to see from the Legacy of Kain series.
PS: I know it's not on modern Xbox consoles, but the whole series can be had for a few bucks on PC- minus Soul Reaver at the moment, which has been temporarily delisted to allow for "some important updates", interestingly enough.
Re: Pick One: Including GoldenEye 007, Which Is Your Favourite Rare Replay Game?
@blockfight Sounds like you've got some catching up to do, then!
Unless you really don't care for older games. The N64-era stuff is arguably the big highlight of Rare Replay, and of Rare itself.
Re: Microsoft Is Looking To Bring More Original Japanese Titles To Xbox
@NoLifeDGenerate Clunky controls are a game design matter, and have nothing to do with the underlying tech (RE Engine, UE4, etc.). Unless you're talking about poor performance, which I hear is an issue in some versions of RE2/3 and especially DR4.
That said, Platinum has made an engine that can pull off 60fps on potato hardware, so that is something worth licensing out. Imagine if Game Freak borrowed a high-performing rendering engine like that, for example!
Re: Reaction: GoldenEye Is Finally Coming To Xbox, But It's A Rare Whiffed Shot For 007
@BartoxTharglod There's noticeable slowdown in FZX, seriously? Think it might be worse than on the real N64? (I remember the performance on original hardware being pretty consistent most of the time, and it hasn't been all that long since I last played it.)
It's difficult to perfectly mimic the original console's performance, so emulators usually run a little better than the original, and that includes Goldeneye... so I would've expected that you'll see a small improvement on Switch. But then, this is Switch Online, and your mention of FZX doesn't bode well. Maybe GE will manage to run worse than the original. (And you're almost definitely right that they won't put in the small effort it'd take to get a consistent 60fps.)
I've found that using the 1.2 Solitaire scheme with the N64's main stick mapped to the Xbox's right stick works pretty well, though menus are a bit weird to navigate that way... I'd hope that they'll make some tweaks, but we'll see!