While some momentum-killing levels and technical issues hold Penny's Big Breakaway back from perfection, the killer aesthetics and buttery smooth gameplay loop make the game an undeniable breakout hit.
2020, on the whole, barring the global catastrophes and all, was a pretty good year for Xbox. While there was the odd misstep like the Halo Infinite delay or the over hyped May event, on the whole the team at Xbox did a bang-up job. However, there are still some things it would be wise for the team to address and improve in 2021.
Ultimately, the tale of Cyberpunk 2077 has yet to be completed, and it is beyond possible that within a year's time, it will be at the top of the WRPG pantheon with Fallout: New Vegas, Skyrim and The Witcher 3.
SiNKR 2 on Xbox, much like the original game, is a great time. It is equal parts relaxing and satisfying for the majority of the 87 levels, and the difficulty is pretty well-balanced. Sinking a puck in a hole is just as satisfying as ever, and the low asking price makes the game all the more worthwhile.
Twin Mirror on Xbox is a good game, if a little inconsistent. It's not the best adventure game out there, but for fans of the genre, it's still a solid experience. For those who aren't as keen on the genre, nothing here is going to change your mind. Still, this is a good experience with a gripping story, some great characters, decent gameplay and moments of brilliance. It's just held back by some unfortunate issues, and the shadow of its better Dontnod adventure siblings.
The Jackbox Party Pack 7 on Xbox One is a solid entry in the long-running series. Two games need an in-person or private chat to be enjoyed to their fullest abilities, but the other three titles not only fit well into streaming, but they are also delightfully fun to play.
For existing Xbox gamers, this is the start of an incredibly exciting journey, and is a showcase of how committed Microsoft is to the brand. For other players, this might just be the push needed to join the Xbox family. No matter what your stance may be, one thing is undeniable: the future of Xbox has never been brighter.
Ultimately, Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don't Die on Xbox One has put me in a bit of a sticky situation. The game itself is stuffed with appealing elements, but the technical issues and high asking price currently hold it back from being a definite recommend. There is a ton for fans of the series and newcomers to enjoy, but like Larry himself, it's not for everyone.
Tell Me Why on Xbox One is DONTNOD's strongest game to date. It is quiet, introspect, mature and superbly written and performed, with visuals that are easy on the eyes - the novel release approach also helps things. There are still some factors holding it back from perfection, but I sincerely hope this is the start of a great partnership between Xbox and DONTNOD, as I feel this game is a perfect example of the type of content Game Pass is perfect for delivering.
Grounded is shaping up to be a strong addition to Obsidian's gameography, and from what has been revealed so far, it seems to be a sleeper hit in the making.
"What makes a good RPG?". The answer to this seemingly simple question will vary wildly from person to person. For some, its all about the dialogue options. For others, its about statistical balance and min-maxing. For me, the hallmarks of a good RPG are immersion and strong storytelling. However, if there is one thing I think RPGs can do away with the most, it's length.
The Bard's Tale ARPG: Remastered and Resnarkled on Xbox One is a rather delightful experience. The dialogue is hysterical, the characters memorable, the RPG mechanics solid as a rock and the combat decent. There are definite performance issues, and it is not as Remastered as it could have been, but when the core game has held up this well, does that really matter?
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated is a blast from the past, and mostly in a good way. The dialogue is entertaining, the visuals splendid, the music catchy and the gameplay rock solid. However, some not insignificant technical issues and a fear of deviating from the source material hold it back from reaching its full potential.
over the past few years, Rare has been seeing something of a renaissance - or Rarenaissance - and the future of the studio is looking the brightest it has been this century. But what exactly can be done with their old IP? Will we ever get a Banjo game again?
Minecraft Dungeons on Xbox One is a fun but flawed dungeon crawler. Mojang has done a pretty good job adapting the franchise to the dungeon-crawler style. However, in their attempt to streamline the more niche genre to reach the broader Minecraft fandom, they have somewhat lost sight of some of what makes those titles so endearing.
Summertime usually brings with it beer gardens, (the occasional day of) sunshine and music festivals. The latter being the chance to forget troubles of the real-world and just exist in a several day long party. But what if you annual pilgrimage to your festival of choice turns sour when say, the uninvited undead come and crash the party? Find out how you would cope in Dead Island 2: SoLA DLC, out now for Xbox, PlayStation and PC.
Pull on your wooly pulleys as it is Winter in Mexico, and in the world of Forza Horizon 5 we all know what that means, right? Yep, more weekly Festival Playlist Weekly Challenge shenanigans to keep us entertained and racing hard through Series 32 Winter!
For those of you who have been living under a rock or deep in the jungle for the last ten years, the Devil May Cry games feature a protagonist called Dante. And this is Dante when he was just effortlessly cool...
Antstream Arcade is already full of some classic games of years gone by. But today it expands its library once more, adding in a number of games from Factor 5.Â
