Topic: Now Playing on Xbox Series X|S

@Beagle The problem with the first one is that it's not technically smooth and the tutorials and menus are very poor so all of my crew died after a while but I'm totally addicted to State of Decay 2 now, and it got the State of Decay 1 map, right? The game looks gorgeous and runs smoothly on Series X. A gem.

And I am now at the final boss of code vein (only tried it once so not sure if it is way more difficult than the rest). I am really enjoying this game and considering if I should give a try at dark souls next... But not sure as one reason I enjoy this one is because you allways have a companion with you that helps in distracting the bosses when you need to heal ir to give a devastating blow from the back and therefore it may be hard to go all alone... I could do with the game coming to GP though

@Beagle I didn't know that about SoD1! Yes they have put a lot of work into the sequel. Great game!

Started Raji: An Ancient Epic (on Game Pass) at the weekend and really enjoying it so far - decent action adventure game with a bit of light platforming and a few puzzle elements in there too. The game is set in India and it's quite interesting how they've interweaved Hindu lore (I think its Hindu - apologies if it's not!) into the story.

The combat felt a little clunky at the start, but seems to have improved a little as the game goes on to a point where I actually quite like it now. I mean, it's not Arkham Asylum good, but decent enough.

My only other minor grip is the camera which can sometimes feel like its zoomed out too far on some sections so for those of us that don't play on a giant TV the action on screen can look a bit small. Certain camera angles also make some of the platforming sections difficult to judge but doesn't happen enough for it to be a big issue.

Quite a short game too; I'm about 5 hours in I think, but feels like I'm near the end. Quick check on HLTB suggests I'm already slightly over the average of 4.5 so must be pretty close.

Finished code vein the other day (really really liked it but not that I want to go for extra challenges on DLC lol) and have now started ME andromeda and have to say so far I am enjoying it quite a bit. I like that the setting is very different from the trilogy. I have just got to the point where I have one colony so I don't know if it gets to be more of the same from now on though...

Turns out I wasn't just close to finishing - I actually was finished Raji. I defeated a boss and suspended the game right at the end of the battle before it could go any further because I had other stuff to do and resumed last night only to be met with a short cut scene and then the credits rolled - apparently that was the last boss. It didn't really feel like a final boss though - I was almost expecting a second battle to start but never did. Oh well, onto the next game I suppose.

Next random GP game is...Katana Zero. Actually one I probably would've ended up buying if it weren't on Game Pass so hopefully its as good as it looks.

Lost Words: Beyond the Page. A total coincidence that I started this right after it was added to Game Pass. I had bought it on sale after Phil Spencer recommended it, but never got around to playing it. It's a charming and relaxing experience for a very simple game.

This week I cannot play on Xbox as I am out of town (so it has been time for Castlevania collection on switch) but I am now about 15-20h into Andromeda and ler me say this game is fenomenal. Absolutely surpassed my expectations for it. The Animations are still subpar but the setting is quite interesting and I like the average size worlds to explore

Scarlet Nexus. I would have probably picked this up at some point on PS5, but now that Microsoft added it to Game Pass a few days ago, I decided to start it up on my Series X. It's been a lot of fun so far.

After a long, work-enforced break from Xbox, I've been trying out a few different games with varying degrees of success:
Halo, Gears, Rage2, Psychonauts2 - all disappointing from a personal perspective.
Slay the Spire - started this last night. Incredible game..!!

@dmcc0
Katana Zero is one of the best games I've played in years!

@Balta666
Thanks for all the updates on Code Vein. It's a game I've been on the fence about, but now will defo try it out after I'm done with Slay the Spire.

@sib played a couple of hours of Katana Zero, but unfortunately it's not really clicking with me. Interesting premise, and nothing really wrong with it, but just not for me I'm afraid.

@dmcc0
Ah, fair enough - one of the great benefits of Game Pass..!

After a break to play the Castlevania GBA collection and Metroid, I came back to Andromeda that I am now probably 2/3 of the way and still loving it (yes, the animations are still kind of jank but the narrative is really good and the setting superb). Also played a bit o Scarlett Nexus (end of chapter 1) and most likely will be my go to after I am done with Andromeda

The Medium

I only got to play it for an hour or so today as it took me longer than I expected to finish up Scarlet Nexus today, but so far I'm enjoying it. I put it off even though I was really looking forward to it due to the mediocre reviews, but it made sense to finally give it a shot since it's October.

I'm playing through unruly heroes before it leaves gamepass. FH4 and Halo 4 are on hold as i try and play through half the games that are leaving at the end of the month. Celeste or Knights and Bikes are next

Tried Carto before it leaves Game Pass. Interesting gimmick with moving the segments of the map to solve the puzzles, but played the first couple of chapters an didn't really have the urge to carry on any further so doubt I'll finish before it leaves. Want to try Knights & Bikes and maybe Unruly Heroes too, but working away from home for the next week or so (with terrible internet) so probably wont get those played either.

I stopped playing Scarlett Nexus on the 12th chapter (and I believe it is the final chapter) as I feel the boss fight is broken for me as after mant attempts not being able to do anything against its final stage I went online to see what I was doing wrong and I found the move the boss is doing again and again and again it is something the guy on the YouTube video said it is the only move he has not seen him do (and this move has no oppening for attack). I am not too bothered as I never really liked the game that much to begin with and could only play it in small bursts. It has at the same time too many cutscenes and the combat is just ok but never great. Said that I want to check the ending and some bond sequences.
Following that I tried echo generations for a bit but the artstyle is not to my taste and have now started Control

Halo Wars 2. Better several years late than never. I enjoyed the first one, but kept putting this off for no real good reason. Now that Infinite is about to come out, again, better really late than never.

Quantum Break. Enjoying it so far after about an hour and a half.