Gaming Xbox Series X|S

Which of these do you prefer

  • Microsoft Game Pass

  • Xbox Game Pass


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Redlambs

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FSR 2.0 is a decent step, and will be available on consoles and all cards which is great. It will never match DLSS in that state though, those comparisons need to stop. It's more like Nvidia's new image scaling that supports the same amount of games whilst they wait for the DLSS upgrade.
 

Sarni

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If you forgot to redeem MX vs ATV Alive when it was given away on Games with Gold in 2015, the good news is they're offering it again in 2022.

They should just ditch GWG at this point or offer just one decent title per month. Having 4 average/bad games is surely not appealing to anyone and I’d imagine Xbox 360 community is small enough already to make it pointless to cater the offer to them by offering two games a month.

Game Pass is their product to offer free games and they have a library good enough there to not need GWG.
 

Sarni

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Guardians of the Galaxy is the sort of game where when you watch reviews and gameplay, you won’t necessarily get why it’s rated so highly but once you’ve started playing you realize it’s bloody brilliant. One of the best games I’ve played in a while.
 

VeevaVee

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Guardians of the Galaxy is the sort of game where when you watch reviews and gameplay, you won’t necessarily get why it’s rated so highly but once you’ve started playing you realize it’s bloody brilliant. One of the best games I’ve played in a while.
Might have to give this a go.
 

Sarni

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Might have to give this a go.
Definitely do. Combat is fun (though quite repetitive) but where it really shines is dialogues and story, very few games are anywhere near this level and for one I’m happy to play a game where dialogues and story aren’t just an afterthought.
 

Berbasbullet

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Definitely do. Combat is fun (though quite repetitive) but where it really shines is dialogues and story, very few games are anywhere near this level and for one I’m happy to play a game where dialogues and story aren’t just an afterthought.
I really enjoyed it, it does drag a little as you say the combat becomes reptitive, but the story keeps it going and the characters are just as fun as the film.

Absolutely worth playing.
 

DavelinaJolie

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How far are you into it now? I booted it up a few days ago and still don't really get it. Has a lovely atmosphere though
Almost complete with a good chunk of the hidden stuff done. Think I've only got one hidden chest to go, and the golden path/last page of the booklet and final boss. Translating the booklet isn't necessary because most of the clues are in there.

I love it. I loved Death's door because of the simplicity of its Zelda take, and I love this as much, if not more, but in a different way. To me this is the Zelda/Dark Souls/The Witness hybrid I never knew I wanted, but I am so glad was made. It inspired that obsessiveness that The Witness did in me to try and dig out the stuff that's buried in there.

On the day/day after release a bunch of people on a forum I check were complaining it's just a Zelda rip-off. I can only assume they didn't actually play it, or if they did, they didn't play past the first five minutes.
 

Vidyoyo

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Almost complete with a good chunk of the hidden stuff done. Think I've only got one hidden chest to go, and the golden path/last page of the booklet and final boss. Translating the booklet isn't necessary because most of the clues are in there.

I love it. I loved Death's door because of the simplicity of its Zelda take, and I love this as much, if not more, but in a different way. To me this is the Zelda/Dark Souls/The Witness hybrid I never knew I wanted, but I am so glad was made. It inspired that obsessiveness that The Witness did in me to try and dig out the stuff that's buried in there.

On the day/day after release a bunch of people on a forum I check were complaining it's just a Zelda rip-off. I can only assume they didn't actually play it, or if they did, they didn't play past the first five minutes.
Mmm yeah I hadn't thought about The Witness but it does a similar 'ephiphany' vibe. There's a lot of a-ha moments, usually when I figure out a sneaky path that I didn't initially notice due to the map's perspective. It's all very clever yet remarkably simple.

I just finished the tomb section and now these crocodile things keep kicking my arse. Any advice?
 

DavelinaJolie

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I just finished the tomb section and now these crocodile things keep kicking my arse. Any advice?
That the Chompignons in the West Garden? If you have the shield then make good use of that. Those things are a bugger early in the game because you don't have much health or stamina, especially with the fairies in the area. There's a section where there's three of them that you can take your time on by using the broken wall that forms a ramp, as they can't follow you up there.
 

Vidyoyo

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That the Chompignons in the West Garden? If you have the shield then make good use of that. Those things are a bugger early in the game because you don't have much health or stamina, especially with the fairies in the area. There's a section where there's three of them that you can take your time on by using the broken wall that forms a ramp, as they can't follow you up there.
That's the one. I did try running through everything up to that ramp but by that point I had about 8 fairies on my arse. I didn't last long :lol:

I'll try using the shield more and maybe lure them away individually. The manual says that they can't turn quickly so I'm guessing it might be worth waiting for them to bite and then roll away to get in a quick slash.
 

DavelinaJolie

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That's the one. I did try running through everything up to that ramp but by that point I had about 8 fairies on my arse. I didn't last long :lol:

I'll try using the shield more and maybe lure them away individually. The manual says that they can't turn quickly so I'm guessing it might be worth waiting for them to bite and then roll away to get in a quick slash.
Yeah it's tricky getting through that section, especially with the fairies, cause you have to wait and block until they move in closer before you can attack. If you can kite away the fairies and deal with them first that can help, as for the Chompignons, yeah I rolled around at bit and used the shield when I couldn't avoid them. It was a real bastard to get through that area.

The wand makes dealing with fairies much easier, but that's a little bit later.
 

BristolRuss

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Think it's a console exclusive as well. My mates will be all over this as they love Warhammer even though the games aren't normally that great.
 

Vidyoyo

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Yeah it's tricky getting through that section, especially with the fairies, cause you have to wait and block until they move in closer before you can attack. If you can kite away the fairies and deal with them first that can help, as for the Chompignons, yeah I rolled around at bit and used the shield when I couldn't avoid them. It was a real bastard to get through that area.

The wand makes dealing with fairies much easier, but that's a little bit later.
So I've played this game a little bit more over then weekend and really love a lot about it. The stakes feel great when you're navigate round the map and desperately trying not to die by normal enemies. Plus it's insanely cool figuring out all the game's little secrets and trying to make sense of the cryptic hints the manual gives.

But those bosses... God damn they're hard. I don't enjoy them much at all.

What are/were your thoughts about them?
 
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DavelinaJolie

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So I've played this game a little bit more over then weekend and really love a lot about it. The stakes feel great when you're navigate round the map and desperately trying not to die by normal enemies. Plus it's insanely cool figuring out all the game's little secrets and trying to make sense of the cryptic hints the manual gives.

But those bosses... God damn they're hard. I don't enjoy them much at all.

What are/were your thoughts about them?
The first real boss in the West Guardian was an eye opener as to how the game is going to go for me. It took a few goes but I kind of liked it.

The Librarian:
I cheesed pretty easily (using the orb), which is pretty do-able if you have enough mana. The mini "stun" effect on the orb actually makes it pretty effective in a few situations in the game.
The Librarian would probably be the one boss that was a disappointment for me, especially as the fight arena is so damn cool.

The Siege Engine was a bit of a bastard to begin with.
Trying to get to the weakspot behind him to land hits was pretty tricky, especially with the fairies around. They made the wand pretty much not optional there.
I really liked it though, and was pretty chuffed when I took him down.

Boss Scavenger is a real wanker.
He can wipe you out so quickly if he can get to you out of cover, especially if he shotguns then attacks. I liked that this one forced me to use the cover though and it was the boss that made me play on the game's own terms the most.
Must have taken 10 tries on him to do it.

Cathedral I found pretty easy to be honest.

This Dark Souls-type of combat isn't my usual thing, and it's not necessarily what I love about the game, but I liked most of the boss battles because of the challenge. I've still got one boss fight left, as I've been away for a few days. I'm interested as to how that will go.
 

Vidyoyo

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The first real boss in the West Guardian was an eye opener as to how the game is going to go for me. It took a few goes but I kind of liked it.

The Librarian:
I cheesed pretty easily (using the orb), which is pretty do-able if you have enough mana. The mini "stun" effect on the orb actually makes it pretty effective in a few situations in the game.
The Librarian would probably be the one boss that was a disappointment for me, especially as the fight arena is so damn cool.

The Siege Engine was a bit of a bastard to begin with.
Trying to get to the weakspot behind him to land hits was pretty tricky, especially with the fairies around. They made the wand pretty much not optional there.
I really liked it though, and was pretty chuffed when I took him down.

Boss Scavenger is a real wanker.
He can wipe you out so quickly if he can get to you out of cover, especially if he shotguns then attacks. I liked that this one forced me to use the cover though and it was the boss that made me play on the game's own terms the most.
Must have taken 10 tries on him to do it.

Cathedral I found pretty easy to be honest.

This Dark Souls-type of combat isn't my usual thing, and it's not necessarily what I love about the game, but I liked most of the boss battles because of the challenge. I've still got one boss fight left, as I've been away for a few days. I'm interested as to how that will go.
Ah you're a much more patient person than me! I've been playing in the evenings after work so I'm there for the challenge but also want to beat them easily :lol:

I'lll take some of these tips going into the future battles. I kinda get the feeling it was designed like this - for people to talk about tactics for beating them (same with the puzzles).
 

DavelinaJolie

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Ah you're a much more patient person than me! I've been playing in the evenings after work so I'm there for the challenge but also want to beat them easily :lol:

I'lll take some of these tips going into the future battles. I kinda get the feeling it was designed like this - for people to talk about tactics for beating them (same with the puzzles).
I think a lot of it is trial and error, to be honest. As you move along more things open up and I had to experiment in some battles to progress. I beat The Heir last night, took several goes and in the end I relied a lot on health potions/fruit rather than the skills or items. It definitely felt like a more pure fight in terms of timing and taking what you're given
 

Redlambs

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I think a lot of it is trial and error, to be honest. As you move along more things open up and I had to experiment in some battles to progress. I beat The Heir last night, took several goes and in the end I relied a lot on health potions/fruit rather than the skills or items. It definitely felt like a more pure fight in terms of timing and taking what you're given
I was looking at Tunic a while ago, are you guys saying this is a recommend?
 

Alock1

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Yeah a brief look over the steam reviews shows it's probably something up my street. I need a break from trying to work up the enthusiasm for the continued Elden Ring slog, so this should do!
I think Tunic is meant to be a slog too! Maybe slog is the wrong word. A very hard game with very little direction, to the point people are scribbling notes throughout as they piece things together.

It's definitely what I'd call a slog but I imagine you love all that stuff, and you're calling Elden Ring a slog for other reasons.
 

Alock1

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UE5 demo from Coalition.

The Gears games don't get the credit they deserve anymore for how good they look graphically. Gears 5 was easily one of the best graphical games for me last gen, and Hivebusters on next gen looked great when it came out last year. Probably because most people are a little bored and fatigued with the franchise generally, and you know what you're getting - it looks great but it also 'looks like Gears'

Would love to see what Coalition could do with a new or different IP on Unreal Engine, as they've actually nailed the execution of the Gears games they have done and clearly have the capability to produce quality games with high production values across single player and multiplayer. Whether they have the chops to build a new IP is a different challenge, but maybe something like Perfect Dark could have been handled there by a 2nd team rather than creating a whole new studio.
 

Redlambs

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I think Tunic is meant to be a slog too! Maybe slog is the wrong word. A very hard game with very little direction, to the point people are scribbling notes throughout as they piece things together.

It's definitely what I'd call a slog but I imagine you love all that stuff, and you're calling Elden Ring a slog for other reasons.
Yeah I'm getting those vibes, straight away with a branch I found a secret path and ended up in a Dark Tomb (and like an idiot decided to push forward), I think this game will be a maze. It's off to a very decent start though!

And yeah ER is a slog that I'm determined to force my way through but I just get so very bored of it quickly.



UE5 demo from Coalition.

The Gears games don't get the credit they deserve anymore for how good they look graphically. Gears 5 was easily one of the best graphical games for me last gen, and Hivebusters on next gen looked great when it came out last year. Probably because most people are a little bored and fatigued with the franchise generally, and you know what you're getting - it looks great but it also 'looks like Gears'

Would love to see what Coalition could do with a new or different IP on Unreal Engine, as they've actually nailed the execution of the Gears games they have done and clearly have the capability to produce quality games with high production values across single player and multiplayer. Whether they have the chops to build a new IP is a different challenge, but maybe something like Perfect Dark could have been handled there by a 2nd team rather than creating a whole new studio.
Yep, their artwork and attention to detail is always among the best in the business.
 

DavelinaJolie

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Yeah I'm getting those vibes, straight away with a branch I found a secret path and ended up in a Dark Tomb (and like an idiot decided to push forward), I think this game will be a maze. It's off to a very decent start though!

And yeah ER is a slog that I'm determined to force my way through but I just get so very bored of it quickly.
If it's any consolation Tunic probably takes around 20-30 hours to complete. I'm over 30 hours but I spent a couple of those with the manual open on the TV whilst I was starting to translate the language.
 

Redlambs

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If it's any consolation Tunic probably takes around 20-30 hours to complete. I'm over 30 hours but I spent a couple of those with the manual open on the TV whilst I was starting to translate the language.
Yeah I think I'll take longer and savour it, I've only just got the sword because I'm spending all my time looking for secrets as per usual :lol: