It does seem odd not to show any next-gen footage, and I would have thought Red Dead Redemption 2 was the most likely candidate to get announced (no doubt it's on the way), but it's hardly surprising GTA V is coming, and personally I welcome it. VI is a long way off I'd say, so it's understandable that Rockstar would want to bring their biggest game over for those who want it. Sure, it's a cash cow, but there's still a huge demand for it, and it's not as if Rockstar have ever been bad to their customers. I think it's fair enough all told, and if they finally, finally deliver some single player DLC with it, then even better.
I for one love the new direction. I've been wanting a horror game very much like this for years, but never would have thought Resi would be the one to do it. Makes The Order: 1886 look even more feeble than it already was in comparison.
Despite its flaws, and sometimes because of them, I really loved Far Cry 2, to the point that I rate it higher than Far Cry 3. Yes, the constant checkpoint attacks, the bullet sponge enemies and the malaria are annoying, but I was so immersed in the majesty of the African setting that I could eventually overlook these problems. Plus, I honestly think Africa is the series' best setting yet - a future instalment needs to go back.
I understand it is a hard game to get into (it was 4-5 hours in on my fifth attempt at starting the game before I came around), but persevere and it's wholly worth it. It's a different beast to its successors, less about being the ultimate apex predator and more about simply surviving in a hostile (but beautiful) world where everything is trying to kill you. I tend to think of it as the Dark Souls of First Person Shooters.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: exclusives are the one key area Xbox has been struggling with most this generation. I personally think a lot of the big Xbox games this gen have been something of misfires (ReCore, Quantum Break, Crackdown 3), and as good as they are, Microsoft can't rely on Forza, Gears and Halo to see them through. They need new IP, desperately, or at the very least need to reinvent an existing one. I'm curious to see how Playground's rumoured Fable game turns out, and would gladly take a new Perfect Dark.
But I also think they could do well to invest in a third party exclusive, perhaps get the rights to bring back a big and popular but dormant franchise on Xbox. Crysis 4, a Dino Crisis remake/reboot, or a new Splinter Cell would do for me, and, while unlikely, none of which are entirely out of the realms of possibility. Crytek have worked closely with Microsoft in the past, and Dino Crisis 3 (as awful as it was) and Splinter Cell: Conviction were Xbox exclusives, or at least console exclusive in Conviction's case.
Either way, Microsoft need to ramp up their exclusives. They may have the best console technically, and hands down offer the best service, but a console is only as good as its games.
Hats of to Phil. He's done an incredible job of turning things around. The Back Compat program, Game Pass, Xbox One X - things have only moved from strength to strength.
However, the one thing Xbox is seriously lacking are great exclusives. When you look at the biggest and best games of the generation, quite a few of them are PlayStation only, games like Bloodborne, Uncharted 4, Horizon and God Of War to name but a few. Plus, there's the imminent arrival of The Last Of Us - Part 2 and Ghost Of Tsushima, both of which I'd wager will be up there with the generation's best.
Xbox simply hasn't been able compete with the sheer breadth and depth of Sony's line-up. Sure, no racer has been better than the Forza Horizon series this gen, but other than that I don't think there have been any genuine "system sellers" on Xbox One. Microsoft have got the Xbox brand back on track with Phil, so now they need to wow us with new IP, something totally original that can't be easily categorised as just another shooter or another racer, or revitalise existing brands in creative ways. They've got the studios now, they just need the games.
It gets a lot of flak, but GTA IV is still one of my favourite games of all time. I actually replayed it this time last year, and, while obviously dated (the cover and shooting mechanics don't particularly hold up), I thoroughly enjoyed it. The nostalgia factor no doubt played a part, but it was also interesting to revisit Liberty City in a post-GTA V world, and see all the lessons Rockstar learned in IV, The Lost And Damned and The Ballad Of Gay Tony.
I can remember looking forward to a game called Jurassic Park: Survival back when Jurassic Park III came out, which was also cancelled. I can't say there have been any good dinosaur games that aren't management sims for a long time (see Dino Crisis 3, Turok 2008 and Jurassic: The Hunted), although I did quite enjoy the King Kong movie game. A decent Jurassic World action game or a new Dini Crisis, remake or reboot, wouldn't go amiss.
I've never really "got" Halo. Naturally, when I bought my original Xbox I got Halo with it, but honestly found it a bit dull. There were too many bland and repetitive corridors for my liking (the endless Library and the awful Truth and Reconciliation spring to mind), and when levels did open up they were mostly boring empty spaces to my eyes. Plus, I couldn't look past the fact that the last half of the campaign is essentially the first half in reverse.
Even so, I've played every Halo game barring Halo Wars 1 and 2 and Spartan Assault, and while I've had issues with them all I still enjoyed them. I can't deny the lore and mythology are strong, and the endings to 1 and 3 are amazing. But I'm going to pick the most Un-Haloest of Halo games and say ODST is my favourite, simply because, well, it's unlike traditional Halo
Comments 267
Re: GTA V Is Coming To Xbox Series X With Performance Upgrades And New Content
It does seem odd not to show any next-gen footage, and I would have thought Red Dead Redemption 2 was the most likely candidate to get announced (no doubt it's on the way), but it's hardly surprising GTA V is coming, and personally I welcome it. VI is a long way off I'd say, so it's understandable that Rockstar would want to bring their biggest game over for those who want it. Sure, it's a cash cow, but there's still a huge demand for it, and it's not as if Rockstar have ever been bad to their customers. I think it's fair enough all told, and if they finally, finally deliver some single player DLC with it, then even better.
Re: Resident Evil Village Will 'Bring Fear To New Heights' On Xbox Series X
I for one love the new direction. I've been wanting a horror game very much like this for years, but never would have thought Resi would be the one to do it. Makes The Order: 1886 look even more feeble than it already was in comparison.
Re: We'll Get A Look At More Next-Gen Games Later This Week
Whether it's Sony or Microsoft, any next-gen showcase is good in my book.
Re: 343 Industries Hiring For "New Project In The Halo Universe"
I'd personally like to see another ODST-style spinoff.
Re: Former Rockstar Leaker Stamps Out Rumour About A Red Dead Redemption Remake
Rockstar have never been interested in remakes, but I can see them porting RDR2 to next-gen.
Re: Roundup: Grab Some Bargain Far Cry Games In This Week's Xbox Sale
Despite its flaws, and sometimes because of them, I really loved Far Cry 2, to the point that I rate it higher than Far Cry 3. Yes, the constant checkpoint attacks, the bullet sponge enemies and the malaria are annoying, but I was so immersed in the majesty of the African setting that I could eventually overlook these problems. Plus, I honestly think Africa is the series' best setting yet - a future instalment needs to go back.
I understand it is a hard game to get into (it was 4-5 hours in on my fifth attempt at starting the game before I came around), but persevere and it's wholly worth it. It's a different beast to its successors, less about being the ultimate apex predator and more about simply surviving in a hostile (but beautiful) world where everything is trying to kill you. I tend to think of it as the Dark Souls of First Person Shooters.
Re: Pick One: Which Of These Xbox Classics Would You Make Backwards Compatible?
Max Payne 3 gets my vote, but Blur deserves the BC treatment too.
Re: PS5 Digital Event Announced, Likely To Feature Xbox Series X Games
They'll definitely show Black Ops, probably Watch_Dogs, possibly Resi, and hopefully Batman.
Re: Xbox Game Studios Creating "The Biggest And Best Line Up Of Exclusives In Xbox History"
I've said it before and I'll say it again: exclusives are the one key area Xbox has been struggling with most this generation. I personally think a lot of the big Xbox games this gen have been something of misfires (ReCore, Quantum Break, Crackdown 3), and as good as they are, Microsoft can't rely on Forza, Gears and Halo to see them through. They need new IP, desperately, or at the very least need to reinvent an existing one. I'm curious to see how Playground's rumoured Fable game turns out, and would gladly take a new Perfect Dark.
But I also think they could do well to invest in a third party exclusive, perhaps get the rights to bring back a big and popular but dormant franchise on Xbox. Crysis 4, a Dino Crisis remake/reboot, or a new Splinter Cell would do for me, and, while unlikely, none of which are entirely out of the realms of possibility. Crytek have worked closely with Microsoft in the past, and Dino Crisis 3 (as awful as it was) and Splinter Cell: Conviction were Xbox exclusives, or at least console exclusive in Conviction's case.
Either way, Microsoft need to ramp up their exclusives. They may have the best console technically, and hands down offer the best service, but a console is only as good as its games.
Re: How Backwards Compatible Games Play Better On Xbox Series X
As someone who's spent more time playing last gen games than current gen games on Xbox One, this can only be a good thing.
Re: Xbox Head Phil Spencer: We Were In A Tough Spot Six Years Ago
Hats of to Phil. He's done an incredible job of turning things around. The Back Compat program, Game Pass, Xbox One X - things have only moved from strength to strength.
However, the one thing Xbox is seriously lacking are great exclusives. When you look at the biggest and best games of the generation, quite a few of them are PlayStation only, games like Bloodborne, Uncharted 4, Horizon and God Of War to name but a few. Plus, there's the imminent arrival of The Last Of Us - Part 2 and Ghost Of Tsushima, both of which I'd wager will be up there with the generation's best.
Xbox simply hasn't been able compete with the sheer breadth and depth of Sony's line-up. Sure, no racer has been better than the Forza Horizon series this gen, but other than that I don't think there have been any genuine "system sellers" on Xbox One. Microsoft have got the Xbox brand back on track with Phil, so now they need to wow us with new IP, something totally original that can't be easily categorised as just another shooter or another racer, or revitalise existing brands in creative ways. They've got the studios now, they just need the games.
Re: Rumour: This Year's Call Of Duty Is Called Black Ops Cold War
I always find Treyarch's CODs problematic, but the first Black Ops' saving grace for me was its setting, so a return to the Cold War is intriguing.
Re: Xbox 360 Classic Alan Wake Is Ten Years Old Today
A great game from a great developer. Would really love a proper sequel.
Re: Video Of Cancelled Prince Of Persia Reboot Surfaces
It astonishes me that we've gone an entire generation without a new Prince Of Persia, or, indeed, a new Splinter Cell.
Re: Grand Theft Auto IV Was Released 12 Years Ago Today
It gets a lot of flak, but GTA IV is still one of my favourite games of all time. I actually replayed it this time last year, and, while obviously dated (the cover and shooting mechanics don't particularly hold up), I thoroughly enjoyed it. The nostalgia factor no doubt played a part, but it was also interesting to revisit Liberty City in a post-GTA V world, and see all the lessons Rockstar learned in IV, The Lost And Damned and The Ballad Of Gay Tony.
Re: It Looks Like There's A New Jurassic World Game On The Way
I can remember looking forward to a game called Jurassic Park: Survival back when Jurassic Park III came out, which was also cancelled. I can't say there have been any good dinosaur games that aren't management sims for a long time (see Dino Crisis 3, Turok 2008 and Jurassic: The Hunted), although I did quite enjoy the King Kong movie game. A decent Jurassic World action game or a new Dini Crisis, remake or reboot, wouldn't go amiss.
Re: Poll: What's Your Favourite Halo Game Released To Date?
I've never really "got" Halo. Naturally, when I bought my original Xbox I got Halo with it, but honestly found it a bit dull. There were too many bland and repetitive corridors for my liking (the endless Library and the awful Truth and Reconciliation spring to mind), and when levels did open up they were mostly boring empty spaces to my eyes. Plus, I couldn't look past the fact that the last half of the campaign is essentially the first half in reverse.
Even so, I've played every Halo game barring Halo Wars 1 and 2 and Spartan Assault, and while I've had issues with them all I still enjoyed them. I can't deny the lore and mythology are strong, and the endings to 1 and 3 are amazing. But I'm going to pick the most Un-Haloest of Halo games and say ODST is my favourite, simply because, well, it's unlike traditional Halo