Junkerman

@bigsocrates: Xenoblade chronicles X always seemed super appealing to me but I never owned a WiiU to try it out.

I did try the other Xenoblade game when they ported it to the Switch but it didnt quite click with me, I didnt find the combat too interesting.

The sci-fi mech setting of X seemed cool though!

@apewins: Well said.

@bigsocrates: With increased costs derived from the increased complexity and time needed to produce "modern" games I have to wonder if anyone is even asking for this to continue? Is there not a critical mass reached when striving for graphical fidelity and technical fidelity doesnt break even with time/financial/personnel risk?

A lot of old games still hold up to this day - and I'd rather have more of those then seeing the opportunities to encounter new ones or return to familiar Iworlds end simply because we're pushing to greater and greater heights with (in my opinion) vastly diminishing returns.

Dev time between Morrowind and Oblivion was like 4 or 5 years and Morrowind had massive expansions.

Oblivion and Skyrim was about the same but they also put out a Fallout game in between.

We had Mass Effects and Dragon Ages coming out.

We had Halos.

Now it seems like we're waiting 6-10 years for games and if they whiff at ALL then the risk and demand for return on investment is just too massive and these corporations cant stomach that and it seems like its encouraging safer and more milquetoast products that are farther and fewer between then they ever were.

I dont want that.

I want someone to take a chance and make Brutal Legend. Or Prey.

Interesting read!

I think it entirely depends on the strength of your exclusive games.

I own both consoles. I play my PS5 the most - but I think I legit dont like the console. I dont like the controller. However I cant really think of a single Xbox exclusive thats launched this generation (or last) that was an absolute must play for me. And the games that I thought I was excited for (Starfield, Halo) ended up being mediocre at best.

I get as many games as I can for my Xbox because I prefer playing on it, its my third party machine.

360 era Xbox had INSANE games. Amazing IPs. Some I still play or wish for sequels too to this very day. Where is the next Fable game? They also had a lot of great exclusives back then that eventually became multi-platform such as Mass Effect.

Its just been flops since or when they did make a sequel it was too derivative and I think when you're playing with IPs as robust as those and you've produced nothing you can safely assume there is some serious management issues going on behind the scenes.

Look at Halo Infinite. Like seriously what the hell happened to that game? I thought the campaign was terrible but the game had some fantastic bones and they toted it as being this big platform for all of the adventures to come... where are the adventures? New levels to play? Not even cheap knock off content. Like nothing the game is just abandonware after years and that's just one of their IPs.

None of their acquisitions have paid off and these companies had been producing absolute bangers before so what changed?

Anyway - its interesting. I'd be sad to see the Xbox Console no longer exist as I think its a fantastic piece of tech and Id choose it over the PS3 in that generation and hardware wise I'd pick it over the PS5 in this generation. I skipped it entirely during the PS4 generation because.... there wasn't a single game other then I think a gear of war?

*Edit - Psychonauts 2. Forgot about that one. So theres one!

I was a little late to the Hades 1 party and so its only been a couple years since I last played it. Loved the game but I have to say I was pretty thoroughly satisfied on its gameplay loop by the end and dont feel ready to jump into it all over again.

Does it feel fresh enough or is it just more Hades?

OG Super Mario RPG - I know there is a fight on some chandeliers and I think you're trying to attack a chain supporting it?

What happens after that who knows!

I'm liking it so far but... wholly heck I *do not* understand the angle of Maximus' character. Tonally he's like in a completely different world. He's petulant, juvenile, wimpy, stoic all at the same time and then the Brotherhood of Steel is also serious but a lampoon? Its like watching 12 year olds goof around one moment and then the next they're killing eachother in cold blood. I dont get it at all.

Like the scene mid way through where Maximus' squire asks him to brand him and they're joshing around with all the fraternity of a teen's sleep over pillow fight... and then they're trying to kill eachother but he's so goofily inept I just dont know what the take away is? Is he a joke? Then next episode he's dead serious, deadly stoic and seasoned as they navigate an encounter with two strangers on a bridge that might as well been from an early episode of the Last of Us. Tonal whiplash of extreme order.

Hey Duders!

Anyone playing Helldivers 2 on PS5?

I picked up the game last week and while it is insanely fun, its insanely fun as a COOP game. And I am having insane connection issues. Is anyone else experiencing this? Have you found any fixes? Ive tested other Multiplayer games and my internet connection and have no issues there but Im getting disconnected maybe 80% of the time if I join someone elses game and even that process takes me 15-60 minutes of dicking around to even be able to join someone elses game without getting a "Failed to connect to game lobby" error over and over.

Most success I've had is by hosting my own games but even those only see people join them once in a while.

Overall its mostly been a single player game for me and thats a huge bummer.

I started playing this game after seeing this article, it was a freebie on PS-Plus - and idk its just one of those games that really grabs me. I'm a huge nerd and having a wizard fantasy adventure skin for what is essentially just shooter mechanics kinda worked for me.

I found it had kind of Halo-Esque momentum and I really enjoyed leaning into the frantic pace of the combat using all of the tools it gives you.

The story is silly and dumb but well animated. It was weird - it feels like a AAA from like 2010 that holds up okay by todays standards idk. I liked it.

I LIKED IT EVERYONE!

Its this year's Midnight Sons for me I guess.

@undeadpool: Im leaning on this take.

This is basically my version of what I wish Monster Hunter was - killing big monsters is fun, satisfying and the class system and gameplay is great!

I find the world itself to be pretty interesting to explore, the caves are labrynthine and compelling but there is a lack of variety and new things as others have said as the game goes on - and when you're navigating the world there isnt really a progression away from these earlier encounters. You're still fighting lizard guys and popping tails off and getting goblins jumping on you at hour 1 and hour 20 and presumably hour 30 and 40. I would have appreciated more Elden Ring esque WTF is THAT shifts between areas or maybe plot triggers given the smaller size of its world.