This is a good critique of the state of Xbox, although I think Redfall is a bad example because it was in development before the acquisition. Jeff Grubb today said he’s heard that Xbox was always disappointed in the state of Redfall and recognized this would be a stinker months ago. This makes sense as I’m pretty sure…

Yeah this is exactly right. This does look a little slicker in terms of the planes of movement, speed, etc. than even the older games, but that’s largely due to the improved animations and tech on display. Ultimately this is an AC game and in many ways, a third person action RPG-lite where if you squint hard enough,…

The US Army may have an opportunity for you sooner or later, only a matter of time now until tanks and infantry are merged into one beautiful combat mech.

To me it sure seems like it will play like the older games. I’d recommend checking those out to get a feel. This trailer doesn’t seem too different although I expect more modern game and real-time combat sensibilities included. In many ways AC influenced the Souls games so you can probably have a good idea of how this…

FROMSOFT’s pace is astounding. I realize they have multiple teams, but Elden Ring is less than a year old, the DLC is coming soonish, and their newest game is coming this summer. Just wow. Crunch in Japan is probably awful but wow.

It’s because you can’t just say “we won’t sell Xbox games.” It’s all of Microsoft. Microsoft--Windows, Teams, Azure, everything related to business, software, and PC sales--would not be allowed in the UK. Not just the gaming division. 

They can merge, they would just not be able to do business in the UK. And as you might expect, Microsoft does not want to stop doing business in the UK. That’s why the contract for merger requires approval in a few key markets, including the US, UK, and EU--the three most important. Microsoft will not simply stop…

I have both consoles but what’s bothered me most (for Xbox) about this is that it’s essentially paralyzed the brand until a resolution is made. Meanwhile Sony has bought like five (!!!) AAA talent studios to create multiplayer live service games, any number of which could be an exclusive “US Army First Person Shooter…

If you can only afford one console, that’s fine! You’d think you’d pick the one that offers the best bang for your buck, which is probably not the PS5, but even if you just prefer their exclusives, that’s fine! I don’t even think exclusives should be a thing, and I wish regulators would address that. But even if you…

Which of these games have non-violent NPCs other than ArmA’s sandbox mode? Is the US Army supposed to not shoot at a squad of Russians? Probably better suited for a GWOT simulator than an actual battlefield, you can definitely shoot enemy soldiers as long as they aren’t surrendering.

I think that’s an issue common with horror games. A monster chasing you is scary. When it catches you and kills you and sends you back to the same loading screen to start the checkpoint over, it’s no longer scary at all. I actually think the Amnesia games avoid this pitfall better than other horror games, especially…

I’ve really enjoyed the Amnesia series, and I’m really looking forward to this one. It sounds like it’s going to be a bigger gameplay departure than Rebirth, which is good because as much as I loved the genre hopping between Amnesia/Machine for Pigs/SOMA/Rebirth, they all felt very same-y when it came to the horror…

Yeah perk cards are just... perks lol.

I get what you’re saying but it’s just an aesthetic. It’s just like perks in any other RPG/action game.

I’m OK with the nerfs—Necro and Druid are my favorite classes from the beta, and unlike most folks, I didn’t find Druid to be too weak—I Just found the other classes to be too strong! Druid felt perfectly balanced. The game should be a little challenging. Diablo 3 got way too early way too fast. Even Diablo 2 doesn’t…

It’s not a problem!

I think it’s dumb to even consume it. Who cares about Harry Potter? It’s something I enjoyed in 1997-2007 or so when I was a kid. Adults need to challenge themselves to enjoy more adult media. The Disney-brained mentality of consuming primarily the same shit you did as when you were a child is not good for your brain.…

The bigotry and harm are what matter most. Culturally, as an aside, it’s remarkable how CONTENT-driven all media has become, to the point where they’d rather wade into a deeply harmful fight over transphobia than dare try to generate a new idea for good TV. What a depressing state of culture we live in. Same applies…

I could take a hike and come back home and still be listening to the same simplistic expository droning dialogue from God of War Ragnarok.

I sincerely appreciate your inclusion of the “8-year-old” reviewer here because I think too often that perspective is missing when adults review media for kids. I wouldn’t buy this game, but I was curious reading about it because of my niece and nephew, who would probably enjoy it. As an aside, I feel the same way…