Gaming Xbox Series X|S

Which of these do you prefer

  • Microsoft Game Pass

  • Xbox Game Pass

Results are only viewable after voting.
Apparently Doom is multiplatform at launch. Not that I’ll play it on launch but at least there’s no ambiguity of it coming.

Bebe said:
Dragon Age looked every bit as terrible as anyone paying attention to Bioware over the last decade should expect. Franchise is dead, or for a very different audience than myself now.

Overall though that's the best show any company has put on for quite a long time imo. Looks like the Xbox software drought will truly turn the corner this fall. They'll have an excellent console and a stacked games lineup while Sony enters what looks like a multi-year lull.

Only slight gripe is not seeing anything from the Clockwork-whatever game from InExile.
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Hey we’ve got Astro, Helldivers, Pacific Drive, FF7 and Stellar Blade this year! Plus I’m sure many of these Xbox games will also be coming to PS5. Hopefully we get a big Sony showcase at the end of the year on what their heavy hitters have been working on.

I’m glad for Xbox / game pass owners though. Even if 5 of these games end up to be very good you have 5 very good next gen games being added to game pass as a bare minimum which is cool.
 
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I thought @Bojan11 came back because he'd suffered through the famine and was ready for the absolute feast. What a let down.
 
Volumiza said:
Hellblade 2 is really breathtaking. Obviously if you didn’t enjoy the first there won’t be much to convert you but if, like me, you loved the first for its intimate and powerful narrative, solid controls and incomparably good lead character then you will love the second too.

Best looking and sounding console game I’ve ever seen and it’s a genuine win for XBox here, these games are class. Almost ultimate hybrid entertainment, game / film crossover. Senua herself is by far and away the best avatar in a game in terms of realisation and connection.
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I wrote this about 1.5 hours in. Was gonna finish it before really rating it but didn’t bother finishing it. POS.

Granted, it’s the best looking POS I’ve ever seen and the audio is sublime but, as someone who puts the OG in my toppest tier of games, Ninja Theory have stripped most of what was good about the original away. Senua herself is sublime to look at and control on a gorgeous landscape but that’s about it.

The narrative is just a flat line throughout. Whereas the first was an intimate mish mash of mental illness and grief, the second is almost void of all that. Even the voices in senuas head are dull and pointless this time around. Reduced to puzzle assists (not that you need them) and directionless chatter. I got dead bored of it.

The combat. It looks brill at first but it becomes quickly clear that NT have dispensed with multiple enemies at once in favour of more scripted intimate fights. Looks ace and initially it’s no big deal but the fights now seem little more that gorgeous QTE’s. Gone is the parrying and slo mo.

Boring. Beautiful bit very boring. It could have been so much more.

So the two games I bought my Xbox for have turned out to be huge disappointments.
 
I love these new Doom games, but I do miss Doom Guy not being anything more than a space marine. I took the text file that came with Doom '93 as cannon.
 
Volumiza said:
I wrote this about 1.5 hours in. Was gonna finish it before really rating it but didn’t bother finishing it. POS.

Granted, it’s the best looking POS I’ve ever seen and the audio is sublime but, as someone who puts the OG in my toppest tier of games, Ninja Theory have stripped most of what was good about the original away. Senua herself is sublime to look at and control on a gorgeous landscape but that’s about it.

The narrative is just a flat line throughout. Whereas the first was an intimate mish mash of mental illness and grief, the second is almost void of all that. Even the voices in senuas head are dull and pointless this time around. Reduced to puzzle assists (not that you need them) and directionless chatter. I got dead bored of it.

The combat. It looks brill at first but it becomes quickly clear that NT have dispensed with multiple enemies at once in favour of more scripted intimate fights. Looks ace and initially it’s no big deal but the fights now seem little more that gorgeous QTE’s. Gone is the parrying and slo mo.

Boring. Beautiful bit very boring. It could have been so much more.

So the two games I bought my Xbox for have turned out to be huge disappointments.
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Sorry mate. Get it sold!
 
Volumiza said:
I wrote this about 1.5 hours in. Was gonna finish it before really rating it but didn’t bother finishing it. POS.

Granted, it’s the best looking POS I’ve ever seen and the audio is sublime but, as someone who puts the OG in my toppest tier of games, Ninja Theory have stripped most of what was good about the original away. Senua herself is sublime to look at and control on a gorgeous landscape but that’s about it.

The narrative is just a flat line throughout. Whereas the first was an intimate mish mash of mental illness and grief, the second is almost void of all that. Even the voices in senuas head are dull and pointless this time around. Reduced to puzzle assists (not that you need them) and directionless chatter. I got dead bored of it.

The combat. It looks brill at first but it becomes quickly clear that NT have dispensed with multiple enemies at once in favour of more scripted intimate fights. Looks ace and initially it’s no big deal but the fights now seem little more that gorgeous QTE’s. Gone is the parrying and slo mo.

Boring. Beautiful bit very boring. It could have been so much more.

So the two games I bought my Xbox for have turned out to be huge disappointments.
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To each his own, I loved the game, more than the first one, had two playthroughs.

Massive Spanner said:
There is no such thing as an Xbox exclusive and there never will be!
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As it should be, Sony started to finally see the light (more like money dried out) as there are no more PS exclusives also.

Also selling the Xbox console after seeing the latest Xbox showcase would be madness, unless you also have good PC of course.
 
evil_geko said:
To each his own, I loved the game, more than the first one, had two playthroughs.
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Glad you enjoyed it so much. I suppose I’ll finish at some point, I think the mistake I made was to play through the first directly before. It made the differences very glaring and I really found the story to lack coherency and depth. Horses for courses and all that though chap.

Unbelievably good looking game though.
 
Volumiza said:
I wrote this about 1.5 hours in. Was gonna finish it before really rating it but didn’t bother finishing it. POS.

Granted, it’s the best looking POS I’ve ever seen and the audio is sublime but, as someone who puts the OG in my toppest tier of games, Ninja Theory have stripped most of what was good about the original away. Senua herself is sublime to look at and control on a gorgeous landscape but that’s about it.

The narrative is just a flat line throughout. Whereas the first was an intimate mish mash of mental illness and grief, the second is almost void of all that. Even the voices in senuas head are dull and pointless this time around. Reduced to puzzle assists (not that you need them) and directionless chatter. I got dead bored of it.

The combat. It looks brill at first but it becomes quickly clear that NT have dispensed with multiple enemies at once in favour of more scripted intimate fights. Looks ace and initially it’s no big deal but the fights now seem little more that gorgeous QTE’s. Gone is the parrying and slo mo.

Boring. Beautiful bit very boring. It could have been so much more.

So the two games I bought my Xbox for have turned out to be huge disappointments.
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Yeah after the first chapter I was really excited as it was so visually stunning and felt good to play, but it just doesn't seem to move beyond being that. I'm up to chapter 4 so I'll probably finish it but I'm disappointed at how one note it is. The first game had enough combat and a great blending of reality and Senua's hallucinatory experience to seem genuinely frightening, and that really was the story. This one... It seems to be about hobgoblins and fantastical shit with Senua's mind dump being some kind of stuff that's just happening. It doesn't feel like there's much real blending of the strands. I may be missing something, or maybe something more will become evident as I continue.

There's not been a sea of corpses moment, and I doubt there'll be a Hela moment either (my god that fight/sequence was amazing).
 
DavelinaJolie said:
Yeah after the first chapter I was really excited as it was so visually stunning and felt good to play, but it just doesn't seem to move beyond being that. I'm up to chapter 4 so I'll probably finish it but I'm disappointed at how one note it is. The first game had enough combat and a great blending of reality and Senua's hallucinatory experience to seem genuinely frightening, and that really was the story. This one... It seems to be about hobgoblins and fantastical shit with Senua's mind dump being some kind of stuff that's just happening. It doesn't feel like there's much real blending of the strands. I may be missing something, or maybe something more will become evident as I continue.

There's not been a sea of corpses moment, and I doubt there'll be a Hela moment either (my god that fight/sequence was amazing).
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Word for word exactly how I felt. One note is a perfect way to describe it.

The first chronicles two journeys for Senua, both her inner and outer challenges. Neither seem too well developed in the second. The stupid one on one only battles coupled with the changes to hit markers for parrying and taking away melee hits is a really strange move by NT, I genuinely cannot see any good reason for making such changes to the combat. It’s almost like they didn’t realise what was actually good about the first.

Glad it’s not just me being über picky. It is gorgeous though :)
 
DavelinaJolie said:
I doubt there'll be a Hela moment either (my god that fight/sequence was amazing).
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It totally was, the whole sequence, the overwhelming odds, the music, it all made for such a spectacular ending. Gaming highlight for me and I really tried on my first playthrough to beat everyone, I was fecking exhausted by the time I died :)
 
Volumiza said:
Word for word exactly how I felt. One note is a perfect way to describe it.

The first chronicles two journeys for Senua, both her inner and outer challenges. Neither seem too well developed in the second. The stupid one on one only battles coupled with the changes to hit markers for parrying and taking away melee hits is a really strange move by NT, I genuinely cannot see any good reason for making such changes to the combat. It’s almost like they didn’t realise what was actually good about the first.

Glad it’s not just me being über picky. It is gorgeous though :)
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The combat also feels trivial since you get the mirror early on. I've never really felt in major peril in any combat situations because of it, few parries, mirror, dead. The only things that gave me any grief were the fire bastards.

If there's a category for best looking rocks, this should win.
 
DavelinaJolie said:
The combat also feels trivial since you get the mirror early on. I've never really felt in major peril in any combat situations because of it, few parries, mirror, dead. The only things that gave me any grief were the fire bastards.

If there's a category for best looking rocks, this should win.
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Do you think maybe the peril has gone due to there not being the creeping darkness up the arm and the prospect of the game ending? Another strange move. I didn’t die once and I was missing blocks and parries and all sorts.
 
Volumiza said:
It totally was, the whole sequence, the overwhelming odds, the music, it all made for such a spectacular ending. Gaming highlight for me and I really tried on my first playthrough to beat everyone, I was fecking exhausted by the time I died :)
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I think Hela was one of those moments in gaming for me, like the Ginso tree escape sequence in the first Ori, discovering the "other" puzzles in The Witness, getting the SERE kit in Titanfall 2, the Halls of Reflection dungeon in Wrath of the Lich King, emerging from the first cave in Daggerfall and the final "escape" sequence of the main campaign in Persona 5.

They built that creeping dread throughout the entire game, the paranoia and fear, then you become a god for all of a few minutes, slashing through the stream of enemies with this new found artifact giving you insane power, it's such a rush. Then the dread crashes back in because it's just a never ending stream, and the voices in your head, pushing you back and finally you get that inevitable outcome. It hit so hard.

Not to mention the music in that sequence, which really was the icing on the cake.

I want to replay that game now.

Volumiza said:
Do you think maybe the peril has gone due to there not being the creeping darkness up the arm and the prospect of the game ending? Another strange move. I didn’t die once and I was missing blocks and parries and all sorts.
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I just don't think the battles are particularly challenging. I think I've died once, but that was just complete laziness on my part, not really taking the combat seriously. There's a good weight to combat I like, it's just not challenging and after beating Lies of P late last year, this is a cakewalk. Like you say, you don't get multiple enemies at once, which means you don't have to look over your shoulder for the next guy (the camera even helpfully swivels for you when a new enemy spawns in!). It just contributes to the lack of claustrophobia and fear the first game excelled at.
 
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Vidyoyo said:
One day I'll get around to it and form my own opinion. @Volumiza's critique hasn't exactly got me chomping at the bit though :wenger:
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Volumiza said:
Worth firing it up dude just to be gobsmacked by the opening visuals. One of those ‘oh, it’s not a cutscene’ moments. Sublimely beautiful game.
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It's pretty for sure.

It's just so hollow, it misses the point of the first game by a long way. Which is a huge shame.
 
Last year:

https://www.videogameschronicle.com...ot-increase-as-a-result-of-activision-merger/

91943_25_microsoft-wont-raise-xbox-game-pass-price-if-activision-merger-is-approved.png


Now:

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help...age-subscriptions/game-pass-updates-july-2024

Starting July 10, 2024, the following updates to Xbox Game Pass will take effect:
  • Price changes will go into effect for new members for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Core, and PC Game Pass.
  • Game Pass for Console will no longer be available for new members.
  • Members who are already subscribed to Game Pass for Console and have automatic payment renewal enabled will be able to continue to enjoy their membership.
Also, a new Game Pass option, Xbox Game Pass Standard, will become available in the coming months. These changes will enable us to bring members more value and more great games to Game Pass.
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Note Game Pass Standard will not include games released on day one.
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Price changes here: https://assets.xboxservices.com/ass...ass price updates by country and currency.pdf
 
So i get $1 price increase in my country for Game Pass, the horror! Still remains the best value.
 
Damien said:
Last year:

https://www.videogameschronicle.com...ot-increase-as-a-result-of-activision-merger/

91943_25_microsoft-wont-raise-xbox-game-pass-price-if-activision-merger-is-approved.png


Now:

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help...age-subscriptions/game-pass-updates-july-2024





Price changes here: https://assets.xboxservices.com/assets/42/85/42850801-4997-491d-a5bd-69c5bd7948ac.pdf?n=FINAL Game Pass price updates by country and currency.pdf
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Typical. The price increase is annoying and in bad faith by MS, but what really kills me is the elimination of Game Pass for Console. It had become a limited but useful option to sub for a month to effectively "rent" a game. Had intended on trying Hellblade at some point but I guess that won't be happening.
 
Bebe said:
Typical. The price increase is annoying and in bad faith by MS, but what really kills me is the elimination of Game Pass for Console. It had become a limited but useful option to sub for a month to effectively "rent" a game. Had intended on trying Hellblade at some point but I guess that won't be happening.
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If you haven't got it I think you can still get ultimate for £1 for a fortnight. They offered it to me the other week. I'm waiting until they have got something new to take them up on the offer. I hope it's still available after this price change.
 
Fully Fledged said:
If you haven't got it I think you can still get ultimate for £1 for a fortnight. They offered it to me the other week. I'm waiting until they have got something new to take them up on the offer. I hope it's still available after this price change.
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I've had it before unfortunately and so don't qualify for that $1/2wks thing. I'd imagine it will continue to be available though.

I planned to sub to GP Console for a bit at some point this fall/winter to play Hellblade, Avowed, maybe Indiana Jones. Just bought a 3 month code for it off Amazon that I'll use when those games are all available. They're supporting existing GP Console subs for now but I'd imagine that'll end in the next year or so.
 
Bebe said:
I've had it before unfortunately and so don't qualify for that $1/2wks thing. I'd imagine it will continue to be available though.

I planned to sub to GP Console for a bit at some point this fall/winter to play Hellblade, Avowed, maybe Indiana Jones. Just bought a 3 month code for it off Amazon that I'll use when those games are all available. They're supporting existing GP Console subs for now but I'd imagine that'll end in the next year or so.
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I'm waiting for Avowed.
 
"Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available across all Game Pass tiers, Microsoft has confirmed.

""Upon launch, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be playable on Xbox and PC for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass for Console members," a Microsoft spokesperson told Eurogamer earlier today."

That was from May 30th :lol:
 
Bebe said:
"Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available across all Game Pass tiers, Microsoft has confirmed.

""Upon launch, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be playable on Xbox and PC for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass for Console members," a Microsoft spokesperson told Eurogamer earlier today."

That was from May 30th :lol:
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I guess they're technically correct - it will be available for those exact tiers. They just didn't reveal that when the game is out, Xbox Game Pass for Console will no longer be purchasable unless you were already subscribed, and Xbox Game Pass Standard will be in place instead which won't have access to Day One games.
 
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