COD4 all the way. It is, quite possibly, the greatest FPS campaign ever made. Thrilling set-pieces, nigh on perfect pacing, and truly cinematic production values. It was a genuine gamechanger back in 2007, with moments you wouldn't expect a game of this ilk to pull-off.
In fact, all four games developed by Infinity Ward prior to the 2010 mass departures are excellent, and, for my money, are leagues above the rest of the pack.
I highly recommend to anyone yet to play MW (2007) or MW2 (2009) to check out the superb remasters of both games. And to those who did play them back in the day but not the remasters, it's well worth the trip down memory lane.
Whatever platform you play it on, Resi 4 is not only the best game in the series, but also one of the best games ever made. It was literally a gamechanger back in 2005, reinventing the franchise and defining action games for years to come. For most who've played it, it should easily sit within their top 5 favourite games of all time.
Judging by the last generation, I'm guessing most publishers and developers treat the first 2 years of a new generation as the cross-gen period, so any games projected to release after that point will probably cut ties with the older machines. It ultimately comes down to when games entered development and when they're due for release. For instance, I can't imagine many games which began production around 2019 are targeting last-gen machines.
Definitely miss the magazines. There was just something special about flicking through the carefully curated pages of a games mag every month, especially when you know the valiant efforts the writers and editors went to in getting it printed on time. And, not to say there aren't good people doing good stuff out there today, the writers and content were so much better than the dross you often find on the internet these days.
RIP Xbox World, PSM, N-Gamer, GamesMaster and all of the official mags.
@clvr If you haven't already, I'd recommend having a crack at ODST. It's my personal favourite of the bunch, largely because it has a completely different vibe to the mainline games, and more engaging characters and plot (which admittedly isn't saying much).
@clvr The funny thing is, despite also having several problems with it, I quite enjoyed Infinite, enough to persuade me to revisit the older games via MCC earlier in the year to see if my opinion of them would change. It didn't.
I don't know. The magic of Halo is simply lost on me. I just don't get it, particularly the praise heaped on the original. As mentioned above, I can appreciate the impact it had (mechanically it was top-notch), but for me, I couldn't overlook how repetitive it was. Pretty much every level has its own corridor copy and pasted throughout (epitomised perfectly by The Library, although Truth And Reconciliation gives it a good run for its money) and to add insult to injury, the last half of the game is essentially the first half in reverse
On launch, reviews were raving about the wide open sandboxes in the likes of The Silent Cartographer and Assault On The Control Room, and, at the time, they were impressive, but also few and far between. Honestly, to me the game is predominantly endless repetitive corridors, something many of Infinite's campaign missions are also guilty of.
It wasn't just that. The Covenant weapons weren't as satisfying to use, the Flood weren't fun to fight, and Bungie's alien design leaves a lot to be desired (admittedly that last one's very subjective). That said, I still liked the game, and I still like Halo as a franchise. I just don't think it's as good as it's made out to be.
Sorry, but even to this day I cannot for the life of me see what's so special about Halo. It's a good game, sure, and I can understand the wider impact it had on the genre, but I had far too many issues with it to say it was a classic.
As much as I'd like to see some new games revealed, I really think Microsoft need to to start clearing off some of their current slate before they start adding to it. They've got so much in the works which we've seen or heard very little about over the last two years. Starfield's a given, of course, and will either open or close the show I'm guessing, but I reckon it's also time to finally lift the lid on games like Fable, Avowed, and possibly even Perfect Dark, to name but a few.
That said, I'd really like to see something of Gears 6, being a huge fan of the series, and as for wild predictions, maybe something to do with VR?
Oh, and another batch of FPS Boosted titles wouldn't go amiss. As I recall, the door was still potentially open on this one, if not more Back Compat games.
While I wouldn't say it's the best in the series, it's definitely 343's best effort, despite a few issues. I've always argued ODST to be secretly the best Halo game, but I should also caveat this by saying I'm not the biggest Halo fan.
Getting flashbacks to when Xbox World broke the story about the remaster back in 2008. 14 years later, it might actually be happening.
However, I feel the time for GoldenEye, remastered or otherwise, has been and gone. The shooter genre has come a long way in the last 25 years, and I suspect the audience have largely moved on with it, even if they don't realise.
Personally, I'm more excited to see IO's Bond game.
Tarnished reputation or not, there's bound to be a renewed interest when the next-gen versions launch, and for the people actually working on the game I hope it works out well for them.
Battlefield games always suffer with a rocky launch, and, to be fair, DICE are usually pretty good at fixing things. Not to excuse a broken launch, but I have faith DICE will turn this around.
@themightyant My thoughts exactly. It's far from the gold standard of remasters, but I can't help but feel much of the criticism is the internet's usual melodramatic overreaction.
Regardless, I'm having a fun time with it so far, warts and all (be they new or carry-overs, as you mention). The nostalgia is obviously a key factor in my personal enjoyment, of course, and I think many will be in the same boat. Those who like it already know they will.
@Deadcow You're absolutely getting this wrong, like so many others have got it wrong. The criticism - and a minor one at that - is not that the game isn't set in Japan, but rather the setting, in the eyes of the reviewer, feels too similar to those of the previous games. For context, this is an approximately 2000 word review, in which, barring the Pros/Cons, Japan is mentioned one time in one sentence as a potential alternate setting. In no way does the review explicitly say or imply the game has been marked down for its choice of setting, only its familiarity. It's a classic case of readers getting the wrong end of the stick.
I suspect where this gross misunderstanding (and ensuing hysteria) comes from is the slightly jokey and informal sentence you highlight under Cons ("Come on Playground - give us Japan already"), which people are evidently taking at face value, not in the context of the full review. This is either down to people lacking sense - there are a lot of idiots out there, after all - or, I imagine, people not reading the actual review, only checking the conclusion, pros/cons, and score. And then, having already been enraged by the fact it only scored 8/10, those people have read that sentence and proceeded to throw their toys out of the pram, naturally directing them at the reviewer. Now, you could argue the reviewer's choice of words here could have been better. Then again, you could also argue readers should be able to put two and two together.
As for not being able to drive a jet ski or dirt bike, these are more suggestions of where the series could go next, not a strike against it for not allowing it. I personally don't see a reason why future Horizon games (if not Motorsport) couldn't go in this direction ("forza" doesn't mean "cars only"). Sure, it would be a bit daft, but this is a game where you parachute into a volcano for crying out loud.
Finally, a lack of surprises is a valid criticism whatever the game, be it Call Of Duty, FIFA or Forza. It all applies, it's just mileage will vary from person to person (pun intended).
Believe it or not, this is a fair and objective review. Ultimately, though, none of us really care what the rest of us think. Just move on, and enjoy the game.
Gears is by far my favourite series on Xbox, even if the recent games can't quite recapture the glory days of the 360 era. Despite that, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what The Coalition serve up next.
"I don't think that reviews should be just opinions."
Surely a review is, and can only ever be, an opinion. Analysis of a game's technical performance, mechanical prowess and the like simply isn't enough, if that's what you're getting at. The reviewer needs to dive into what does and doesn't work for them, and in this case, @Liam_Doolan wasn't keen on the high levels of chatter and came away with feelings of overfamiliarity, and thus marked it down accordingly. Now, you don't have to agree with those reasons - maybe you can tolerate the dialogue more, and aren't as bothered with the familiar structure and environments - but you should at least understand and appreciate them.
And let's be clear here. This is still a positive review, and an 8/10 is a great score, so why are people losing their minds over it? As a former games journalist myself, it does irk me when I see self-righteous commenters complaining about honest reviews (especially when those commenters haven't even played the game yet) and describing them, for example, and as you put it, as "low-quality". I've seen some low quality reviews in my time and trust me, this isn't one of them.
By all means, disagree with the review and debate your reasons - that's the fun part - but understand reviews are always subjective. Just because one reviewer's opinion doesn't align with yours isn't grounds to knock them. Games journalists are hardworking folk, and even when I disagree with them, I'll stand by them over the crazies in the comments threads.
@FraserG I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but people who haven't played a game telling people who have that their review is wrong is one of the biggest quirks of the industry. People seem to forget all reviews are subjective, confuse an 8 for a number much lower, and, I imagine, probably don't even read the whole review, only checking the conclusion and score.
On that note, ever considered dropping the scores, or would that lose too much traffic?
@Rural-Bandit If I remember correctly, I believe Microsoft demoed Gears Ultimate Edition running at 60fps on Series X to the press back in early 2020. I was quite surprised when it didn't get the upgrade earlier this year.
On another note, I'd love to see Microsoft work their FPS Boost magic on some 360 titles.
I've always been something of a casual Halo fan, but this does look impressive. The ultimate Halo, if you will. If nothing else, I'm really glad for the hardworking folks at 343, that they've managed to prove the doubters wrong (not that all the negativity was unwarranted, mind, and some concerns still remain). Hopefully, the final game will deliver.
@Tharsman My thoughts exactly. Here in the UK, it costs the same as the Mass Effect LE. Both packages consist of three great games with considerable upgrades to their graphics and controls (if anything, I'd argue GTA has had the bigger overhaul, simply because they're older), so what are people complaining about? I suspect most of the complaints are from people who hate Rockstar anyway.
@Richnj I'm with you on this. A decent graphical overhaul which retains the look of the originals. Perhaps not as big a leap as it could, but also not a a lazy cash grab.
Over-the-top, violent, and stupid. Looks like Saints Row to me, so I'll be checking this out near launch.
I really can't understand the backlash with this one. Either I'm seeing a different game, or others are being needlessly petty? It's fine not to like it, but some of the reasons for the negativity seem pretty dumb.
@MyThoughts31 I'm not wanting to start an argument here, but I find your views, and those of many others regarding Rockstar, to be completely unfounded. I think you, and many others I might add, are confusing the fact that Rockstar have simply been supporting GTA Online with numerous updates since release with the misconception that Rockstar have been milking GTA V. Think about it, if Rockstar and their evil overlords at Take Two were really milking it, they wouldn't have pumped out so many free updates over the years (seriously, go and take a look at how many - if anything it's commendable) and would have already released numerous simple remasters of games from Rockstar's back catalogue.
As for your claims of "slightly different graphics", this story is discussing the possibility of how many aspects of the games have been upgraded. New lighting, improved textures, reworked controls - I wouldn't say this is a lazy cash grab. Of course, right now we haven't seen the games in action, so this report could be completely false. My point is, without seeing the games running, and considering the content of the article, your original comment seemed misguided and ill-informed, likewise, with no confirmed price point, your claim that it'll cost £70. We should all wait until we have the cold hard facts before we start making wild accusations.
Oh, and this is entirely my opinion, but no profanities are valid on videogame website comment sections, or indeed any comment sections.
I guess the whole backlash against Rockstar stems from the fact they haven't yet produced the game people want them to, and have instead focussed on expanding GTA Online. Yes, they've made a shedload of money from it, but at the end of the day they are a business, and an extremely generous one at that, I have to say, when you consider the quality of their games and sheer amount of content they provide. So who are we to tell them how to run their business, what games they should be making, and how much they should charge for them?
@MyThoughts31 I feel like you haven't read the article or even the headline. At this point, the public hasn't seen games running, so perhaps we should all wait and see before we start with the profanities?
I must be seeing a different game, because I genuinely don't understand why it's getting so much hate. It's fine if people don't like what they're seeing - it really is - but the levels of negativity seem to be disproportionately huge when you consider what they're actually complaining about. It just seems to be another needless petty backlash in a long line of needless petty backlashes.
I can't say I've been overly impressed from what I'd seen prior. That said, I believe this is being developed by Eidos Montreal's A Team (aka the Deus Ex team), so I've always given it the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully, these positive previews are an indicator of good things to come from the final game.
Despite some issues, Gears Of War 3 remains my personal favourite in the series, and as a package it was hard to beat back in 2011. A mostly superb campaign (with 4 player co-op to boot), arguably the series' best multiplayer, and Horde 2.0, along with the fun but ultimately inessential Arcade and Beast modes... Gears 3 had it all.
Got to go with Battlefield here. As something of a lapsed Battlefield player (I haven't really invested in a Battlefield game since Bad Company 2) and someone who's not much of a multiplayer gamer, I'm keen to sink some serious hours into 2042. Arguably, Battlefield has always been the best online shooter around, because any player of any skill level can find a role for themselves and have fun, and DICE are really good at rewarding players for individual acts which ultimately help fellow teammates.
That said, I'm always excited to play a new COD campaign. Even if it's not your cup of tea, few can deny COD is always a highly polished and exceptionally well-produced blast-fest. Even though I've enjoyed some CODs more than others, I've always had fun playing them.
Saying COD 2022 is gong to be a Modern Warfare sequel isn't much of a claim, but I'll still take it. The Modern Warfare reboot was probably my favourite COD of the generation, excluding the remasters, that is.
Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Thor, Batman, Superman... these are some of the biggest and most recognisable characters in the world. In terms of popularity, Master Chief simply can't touch Spider-Man, and if you produce a game as good as a Halo and attach a big superhero licence, it's almost guaranteed to fly off the shelves.
Let's not forget, Insomniac's Spider-Man went on to become PlayStation's bestselling exclusive in history, or certainly one of if I'm not mistaken. Now I'm sure most who've played it can agree it's a really great game, but there are plenty of others more deserving of that accolade, right? Except, none of them have such a prestigious licence attached. It drew big numbers before, and make no mistake people will buy a PlayStation to play the next Spider-Man, and Wolverine too.
Likewise, people will buy an Xbox (or at least a Game Pass subscription) to play a new Fantastic Four game, or a new Wonder Woman, assuming the quality is there. Microsoft have plenty of studios to take the lead, and they've got the money to strike a deal for any character they want. What could Ninja Theory do with Wonder Woman or Black Panther?
I'm not saying Microsoft should stop what they're already doing. In fact, considering how flooded the film and game markets are with superheroes at the moment, I quite like the fact they've got no superhero games in development (that we know of, anyway). But the fact remains superheroes are the hot ticket right now, and I think they'll continue to be for some time, so why not capitalise on their popularity and bolster the Xbox catalogue with one or two?
@InterceptorAlpha Yes, that was my point. If a game scores 50%, it suggests to me the game is straight-up average, and anything above is still "good" as such, subjectively speaking of course. Take those scores away, though, and people will only have the actual analysis to debate, which is how it should be.
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Re: It's Been 15 Years Since Call Of Duty 4 Changed The Xbox Live Landscape
I can think of few games which have had as big an impact on the industry as COD4. What a game.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Call Of Duty Campaign On Xbox?
COD4 all the way. It is, quite possibly, the greatest FPS campaign ever made. Thrilling set-pieces, nigh on perfect pacing, and truly cinematic production values. It was a genuine gamechanger back in 2007, with moments you wouldn't expect a game of this ilk to pull-off.
In fact, all four games developed by Infinity Ward prior to the 2010 mass departures are excellent, and, for my money, are leagues above the rest of the pack.
I highly recommend to anyone yet to play MW (2007) or MW2 (2009) to check out the superb remasters of both games. And to those who did play them back in the day but not the remasters, it's well worth the trip down memory lane.
Re: Assassin's Creed 'Mirage' Reportedly Launching In Spring 2023
If any franchise needs a "return to basics", it's Assassin's Creed.
Re: Pick One: Which Is Your Favourite Alien Game On Xbox?
Isolation, by a mile.
Colonial Marines still hurts. How I wish we could have played the version unveiled back in 2008.
Re: Pick One: Which Is Your Favourite Resident Evil Game On Xbox?
Whatever platform you play it on, Resi 4 is not only the best game in the series, but also one of the best games ever made. It was literally a gamechanger back in 2005, reinventing the franchise and defining action games for years to come. For most who've played it, it should easily sit within their top 5 favourite games of all time.
The RE2 remake is very good too, mind.
Re: Someone Recently Unlocked An Achievement In GoldenEye 007 For Xbox
I suspect a Game Pass shadow drop during next week's showcase.
Re: Resident Evil 4 Remake Revealed, Launches On Xbox In March 2023
I remain sceptical, but, at the same time, the chance to play a more horror focused reimagining of Resi 4 is hugely exciting.
Re: Xbox One Is Probably Here To Stay, Whether We Like It Or Not
Judging by the last generation, I'm guessing most publishers and developers treat the first 2 years of a new generation as the cross-gen period, so any games projected to release after that point will probably cut ties with the older machines. It ultimately comes down to when games entered development and when they're due for release. For instance, I can't imagine many games which began production around 2019 are targeting last-gen machines.
Re: Gears Of War Designer Talks The Struggles Of Launching On Xbox 360
Gears Of War - the game that made the Xbox 360 and defined a generation.
Re: Expect Sequels, Remakes And More Says New Tomb Raider, Deus Ex Owners
A sequel to Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, please.
Re: Video: Here's A Nostalgic Look At Official Xbox Magazine Demo Discs
Definitely miss the magazines. There was just something special about flicking through the carefully curated pages of a games mag every month, especially when you know the valiant efforts the writers and editors went to in getting it printed on time. And, not to say there aren't good people doing good stuff out there today, the writers and content were so much better than the dross you often find on the internet these days.
RIP Xbox World, PSM, N-Gamer, GamesMaster and all of the official mags.
Re: Reggie Fils-Aimé Gushes Over Halo, Reveals Why It's His Favourite Non-Nintendo Game
@clvr If you haven't already, I'd recommend having a crack at ODST. It's my personal favourite of the bunch, largely because it has a completely different vibe to the mainline games, and more engaging characters and plot (which admittedly isn't saying much).
Re: Reggie Fils-Aimé Gushes Over Halo, Reveals Why It's His Favourite Non-Nintendo Game
@clvr The funny thing is, despite also having several problems with it, I quite enjoyed Infinite, enough to persuade me to revisit the older games via MCC earlier in the year to see if my opinion of them would change. It didn't.
I don't know. The magic of Halo is simply lost on me. I just don't get it, particularly the praise heaped on the original. As mentioned above, I can appreciate the impact it had (mechanically it was top-notch), but for me, I couldn't overlook how repetitive it was. Pretty much every level has its own corridor copy and pasted throughout (epitomised perfectly by The Library, although Truth And Reconciliation gives it a good run for its money) and to add insult to injury, the last half of the game is essentially the first half in reverse
On launch, reviews were raving about the wide open sandboxes in the likes of The Silent Cartographer and Assault On The Control Room, and, at the time, they were impressive, but also few and far between. Honestly, to me the game is predominantly endless repetitive corridors, something many of Infinite's campaign missions are also guilty of.
It wasn't just that. The Covenant weapons weren't as satisfying to use, the Flood weren't fun to fight, and Bungie's alien design leaves a lot to be desired (admittedly that last one's very subjective). That said, I still liked the game, and I still like Halo as a franchise. I just don't think it's as good as it's made out to be.
Re: Reggie Fils-Aimé Gushes Over Halo, Reveals Why It's His Favourite Non-Nintendo Game
Sorry, but even to this day I cannot for the life of me see what's so special about Halo. It's a good game, sure, and I can understand the wider impact it had on the genre, but I had far too many issues with it to say it was a classic.
Re: Talking Point: What Are Your Wild Predictions For The Xbox Games Showcase?
As much as I'd like to see some new games revealed, I really think Microsoft need to to start clearing off some of their current slate before they start adding to it. They've got so much in the works which we've seen or heard very little about over the last two years. Starfield's a given, of course, and will either open or close the show I'm guessing, but I reckon it's also time to finally lift the lid on games like Fable, Avowed, and possibly even Perfect Dark, to name but a few.
That said, I'd really like to see something of Gears 6, being a huge fan of the series, and as for wild predictions, maybe something to do with VR?
Oh, and another batch of FPS Boosted titles wouldn't go amiss. As I recall, the door was still potentially open on this one, if not more Back Compat games.
Re: Random: Legendary Filmmaker Thinks Halo Infinite Is The 'Best Of The Halo Series'
While I wouldn't say it's the best in the series, it's definitely 343's best effort, despite a few issues. I've always argued ODST to be secretly the best Halo game, but I should also caveat this by saying I'm not the biggest Halo fan.
Re: No Joke, It Looks Like GoldenEye 007 Is Finally Coming To Xbox
Getting flashbacks to when Xbox World broke the story about the remaster back in 2008. 14 years later, it might actually be happening.
However, I feel the time for GoldenEye, remastered or otherwise, has been and gone. The shooter genre has come a long way in the last 25 years, and I suspect the audience have largely moved on with it, even if they don't realise.
Personally, I'm more excited to see IO's Bond game.
Re: Cyberpunk 2077 Will Be 'Perceived As A Very Good Game' In The Long Run, Says CDPR
Tarnished reputation or not, there's bound to be a renewed interest when the next-gen versions launch, and for the people actually working on the game I hope it works out well for them.
Re: Battlefield 2042 Draws Significant Criticism In Its Opening Weekend
@Hexamex-Tex @InterceptorAlpha That's true, but not entirely limited to.
Re: Battlefield 2042 Draws Significant Criticism In Its Opening Weekend
Battlefield games always suffer with a rocky launch, and, to be fair, DICE are usually pretty good at fixing things. Not to excuse a broken launch, but I have faith DICE will turn this around.
Re: 37 FPS Boosts Added To Backwards Compatible Games On Xbox Series X|S
Keep them coming, Microsoft, keep them coming...
Re: Xbox Adds 76 Games To Backwards Compatibility Including TimeSplitters, Max Payne & Star Wars
Glad to see Binary Domain get some love.
Also, Microsoft have got some great choices for upcoming Games With Gold offerings.
Re: Hands On: GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition - Still A Blast To Play, If You Can Look Past The Bugs
@themightyant My thoughts exactly. It's far from the gold standard of remasters, but I can't help but feel much of the criticism is the internet's usual melodramatic overreaction.
Regardless, I'm having a fun time with it so far, warts and all (be they new or carry-overs, as you mention). The nostalgia is obviously a key factor in my personal enjoyment, of course, and I think many will be in the same boat. Those who like it already know they will.
Re: Review: Forza Horizon 5 - An Amazing Game, But One That's A Little Too Familiar
@Deadcow You're absolutely getting this wrong, like so many others have got it wrong. The criticism - and a minor one at that - is not that the game isn't set in Japan, but rather the setting, in the eyes of the reviewer, feels too similar to those of the previous games. For context, this is an approximately 2000 word review, in which, barring the Pros/Cons, Japan is mentioned one time in one sentence as a potential alternate setting. In no way does the review explicitly say or imply the game has been marked down for its choice of setting, only its familiarity. It's a classic case of readers getting the wrong end of the stick.
I suspect where this gross misunderstanding (and ensuing hysteria) comes from is the slightly jokey and informal sentence you highlight under Cons ("Come on Playground - give us Japan already"), which people are evidently taking at face value, not in the context of the full review. This is either down to people lacking sense - there are a lot of idiots out there, after all - or, I imagine, people not reading the actual review, only checking the conclusion, pros/cons, and score. And then, having already been enraged by the fact it only scored 8/10, those people have read that sentence and proceeded to throw their toys out of the pram, naturally directing them at the reviewer. Now, you could argue the reviewer's choice of words here could have been better. Then again, you could also argue readers should be able to put two and two together.
As for not being able to drive a jet ski or dirt bike, these are more suggestions of where the series could go next, not a strike against it for not allowing it. I personally don't see a reason why future Horizon games (if not Motorsport) couldn't go in this direction ("forza" doesn't mean "cars only"). Sure, it would be a bit daft, but this is a game where you parachute into a volcano for crying out loud.
Finally, a lack of surprises is a valid criticism whatever the game, be it Call Of Duty, FIFA or Forza. It all applies, it's just mileage will vary from person to person (pun intended).
Believe it or not, this is a fair and objective review. Ultimately, though, none of us really care what the rest of us think. Just move on, and enjoy the game.
Re: Can You Believe It? The Gears Of War Series Is Now 15 Years Old
Gears is by far my favourite series on Xbox, even if the recent games can't quite recapture the glory days of the 360 era. Despite that, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what The Coalition serve up next.
Re: Review: Forza Horizon 5 - An Amazing Game, But One That's A Little Too Familiar
@BlueOcean So what exactly makes this a poor and unfair review, and what are the reviewer's tastes?
Re: Review: Forza Horizon 5 - An Amazing Game, But One That's A Little Too Familiar
@BlueOcean
"I don't think that reviews should be just opinions."
Surely a review is, and can only ever be, an opinion. Analysis of a game's technical performance, mechanical prowess and the like simply isn't enough, if that's what you're getting at. The reviewer needs to dive into what does and doesn't work for them, and in this case, @Liam_Doolan wasn't keen on the high levels of chatter and came away with feelings of overfamiliarity, and thus marked it down accordingly. Now, you don't have to agree with those reasons - maybe you can tolerate the dialogue more, and aren't as bothered with the familiar structure and environments - but you should at least understand and appreciate them.
And let's be clear here. This is still a positive review, and an 8/10 is a great score, so why are people losing their minds over it? As a former games journalist myself, it does irk me when I see self-righteous commenters complaining about honest reviews (especially when those commenters haven't even played the game yet) and describing them, for example, and as you put it, as "low-quality". I've seen some low quality reviews in my time and trust me, this isn't one of them.
By all means, disagree with the review and debate your reasons - that's the fun part - but understand reviews are always subjective. Just because one reviewer's opinion doesn't align with yours isn't grounds to knock them. Games journalists are hardworking folk, and even when I disagree with them, I'll stand by them over the crazies in the comments threads.
Re: Roundup: Here’s What The Critics Are Saying About Forza Horizon 5
@FraserG I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but people who haven't played a game telling people who have that their review is wrong is one of the biggest quirks of the industry. People seem to forget all reviews are subjective, confuse an 8 for a number much lower, and, I imagine, probably don't even read the whole review, only checking the conclusion and score.
On that note, ever considered dropping the scores, or would that lose too much traffic?
Re: Soapbox: FPS Boost For Xbox Has Been Great, But I Hope There's Still More To Come
@Rural-Bandit If I remember correctly, I believe Microsoft demoed Gears Ultimate Edition running at 60fps on Series X to the press back in early 2020. I was quite surprised when it didn't get the upgrade earlier this year.
On another note, I'd love to see Microsoft work their FPS Boost magic on some 360 titles.
Re: New Halo Infinite Campaign Footage Is Here, And It Looks Awesome
I've always been something of a casual Halo fan, but this does look impressive. The ultimate Halo, if you will. If nothing else, I'm really glad for the hardworking folks at 343, that they've managed to prove the doubters wrong (not that all the negativity was unwarranted, mind, and some concerns still remain). Hopefully, the final game will deliver.
Re: Forza Horizon 5 Is A 'Phenomenal Experience' On Xbox Series X, Says Digital Foundry
Playground Games truly are the jewel in Microsoft's game development crown.
Re: Poll: Are You Buying GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition?
@Tharsman My thoughts exactly. Here in the UK, it costs the same as the Mass Effect LE. Both packages consist of three great games with considerable upgrades to their graphics and controls (if anything, I'd argue GTA has had the bigger overhaul, simply because they're older), so what are people complaining about? I suspect most of the complaints are from people who hate Rockstar anyway.
Re: Poll: Are You Buying GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition?
Already preordered.
Re: Best GTA Xbox Games: Our Picks For The Top Grand Theft Auto Titles
@awp69 GTA IV is backwards compatible on Xbox. And with its uncapped framerate, it's a locked 60fps on Series X.
I also agree with you in that I too think it's sorely under appreciated, but I can understand why people have gripes with it.
Re: Gallery: Here's A Look At The Gorgeous Visual Upgrades In GTA Trilogy's Definitive Edition
@Richnj I'm with you on this. A decent graphical overhaul which retains the look of the originals. Perhaps not as big a leap as it could, but also not a a lazy cash grab.
Re: Video: Here's A First Look At The Saints Row Reboot's Opening Missions
Over-the-top, violent, and stupid. Looks like Saints Row to me, so I'll be checking this out near launch.
I really can't understand the backlash with this one. Either I'm seeing a different game, or others are being needlessly petty? It's fine not to like it, but some of the reasons for the negativity seem pretty dumb.
Re: Best GTA Xbox Games: Our Picks For The Top Grand Theft Auto Titles
I've always believed every GTA to be better than the last, so it's GTA V for me.
Re: GTA's Remastered Trilogy Officially Arrives This November, Watch The Trailer
Looks good to me. Three classic games with a substantial(ish) graphical overhaul at a good price (when you consider the current market). I'm in.
Re: GTA Trilogy Will Reportedly Include New Lighting, Improved Textures And GTA V-Style Controls
@MyThoughts31 I'm not wanting to start an argument here, but I find your views, and those of many others regarding Rockstar, to be completely unfounded. I think you, and many others I might add, are confusing the fact that Rockstar have simply been supporting GTA Online with numerous updates since release with the misconception that Rockstar have been milking GTA V. Think about it, if Rockstar and their evil overlords at Take Two were really milking it, they wouldn't have pumped out so many free updates over the years (seriously, go and take a look at how many - if anything it's commendable) and would have already released numerous simple remasters of games from Rockstar's back catalogue.
As for your claims of "slightly different graphics", this story is discussing the possibility of how many aspects of the games have been upgraded. New lighting, improved textures, reworked controls - I wouldn't say this is a lazy cash grab. Of course, right now we haven't seen the games in action, so this report could be completely false. My point is, without seeing the games running, and considering the content of the article, your original comment seemed misguided and ill-informed, likewise, with no confirmed price point, your claim that it'll cost £70. We should all wait until we have the cold hard facts before we start making wild accusations.
Oh, and this is entirely my opinion, but no profanities are valid on videogame website comment sections, or indeed any comment sections.
I guess the whole backlash against Rockstar stems from the fact they haven't yet produced the game people want them to, and have instead focussed on expanding GTA Online. Yes, they've made a shedload of money from it, but at the end of the day they are a business, and an extremely generous one at that, I have to say, when you consider the quality of their games and sheer amount of content they provide. So who are we to tell them how to run their business, what games they should be making, and how much they should charge for them?
Re: GTA Trilogy Will Reportedly Include New Lighting, Improved Textures And GTA V-Style Controls
@MyThoughts31 I feel like you haven't read the article or even the headline. At this point, the public hasn't seen games running, so perhaps we should all wait and see before we start with the profanities?
Re: New Saints Row Gameplay Focuses On High Octane Driving And Fast-Paced Combat
I must be seeing a different game, because I genuinely don't understand why it's getting so much hate. It's fine if people don't like what they're seeing - it really is - but the levels of negativity seem to be disproportionately huge when you consider what they're actually complaining about. It just seems to be another needless petty backlash in a long line of needless petty backlashes.
Re: Resident Evil: Welcome To Racoon City's First Trailer Is Finally Here
Predictably, it doesn't look great, but could be something of a guilty pleasure.
Re: Roundup: Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy Is Sounding Promising In Early Previews
I can't say I've been overly impressed from what I'd seen prior. That said, I believe this is being developed by Eidos Montreal's A Team (aka the Deus Ex team), so I've always given it the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully, these positive previews are an indicator of good things to come from the final game.
Re: It's Hard To Believe, But Gears Of War 3 Is Now Ten Years Old
Despite some issues, Gears Of War 3 remains my personal favourite in the series, and as a package it was hard to beat back in 2011. A mostly superb campaign (with 4 player co-op to boot), arguably the series' best multiplayer, and Horde 2.0, along with the fun but ultimately inessential Arcade and Beast modes... Gears 3 had it all.
Re: Pick One: Are You More Interested In COD Or Battlefield This Year?
Got to go with Battlefield here. As something of a lapsed Battlefield player (I haven't really invested in a Battlefield game since Bad Company 2) and someone who's not much of a multiplayer gamer, I'm keen to sink some serious hours into 2042. Arguably, Battlefield has always been the best online shooter around, because any player of any skill level can find a role for themselves and have fun, and DICE are really good at rewarding players for individual acts which ultimately help fellow teammates.
That said, I'm always excited to play a new COD campaign. Even if it's not your cup of tea, few can deny COD is always a highly polished and exceptionally well-produced blast-fest. Even though I've enjoyed some CODs more than others, I've always had fun playing them.
Re: Soapbox: Hey Rockstar, How About Some Truly Old-School GTA Remasters
Chinatown Wars would have been perfect on XBLA back in the day. Alas, it was never meant to be...
Re: Call Of Duty 2022 Will Reportedly Be A Sequel To 2019's Modern Warfare
Saying COD 2022 is gong to be a Modern Warfare sequel isn't much of a claim, but I'll still take it. The Modern Warfare reboot was probably my favourite COD of the generation, excluding the remasters, that is.
Re: Xbox Game Studios' Deathloop Becomes One Of The Highest Reviewed PS5 Games Of 2021
Congratulations to Arkane. I'm looking forward to playing it... eventually.
Re: Talking Point: Is Xbox Missing Out By Leaving The Superheroes To PlayStation?
Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Thor, Batman, Superman... these are some of the biggest and most recognisable characters in the world. In terms of popularity, Master Chief simply can't touch Spider-Man, and if you produce a game as good as a Halo and attach a big superhero licence, it's almost guaranteed to fly off the shelves.
Let's not forget, Insomniac's Spider-Man went on to become PlayStation's bestselling exclusive in history, or certainly one of if I'm not mistaken. Now I'm sure most who've played it can agree it's a really great game, but there are plenty of others more deserving of that accolade, right? Except, none of them have such a prestigious licence attached. It drew big numbers before, and make no mistake people will buy a PlayStation to play the next Spider-Man, and Wolverine too.
Likewise, people will buy an Xbox (or at least a Game Pass subscription) to play a new Fantastic Four game, or a new Wonder Woman, assuming the quality is there. Microsoft have plenty of studios to take the lead, and they've got the money to strike a deal for any character they want. What could Ninja Theory do with Wonder Woman or Black Panther?
I'm not saying Microsoft should stop what they're already doing. In fact, considering how flooded the film and game markets are with superheroes at the moment, I quite like the fact they've got no superhero games in development (that we know of, anyway). But the fact remains superheroes are the hot ticket right now, and I think they'll continue to be for some time, so why not capitalise on their popularity and bolster the Xbox catalogue with one or two?
Re: Soapbox: Enter The Matrix And Path Of Neo Were Masterpieces And I Won’t Hear Otherwise
@InterceptorAlpha Yes, that was my point. If a game scores 50%, it suggests to me the game is straight-up average, and anything above is still "good" as such, subjectively speaking of course. Take those scores away, though, and people will only have the actual analysis to debate, which is how it should be.