Rajakaru Review - The Xbox One "Six Months On"

The Xbox 360 that exists in 2014 bears very little resemblance to the console that Microsoft launched in 2005. It’s so different, in fact, that it helps to think of the company’s new Xbox One as an evolution, not of the original Xbox 360 but of the one that exists today.

Over the eight-year lifetime, the Xbox 360 underwent radical transformations. In 2008, the "New Xbox Experience" delivered an entirely new interface, customizable player Avatars, eight-player party chat and Netflix streaming, a first for video game consoles. In 2010, the first iteration of Kinect and the platform’s voice and gesture controls redefined the 360 once again. Microsoft were always at the forefront of the innovations that defined the generation and actually initiated many of the ideas that Sony took forward too.

Their focus on entertainment never diminished the Xbox 360's gaming offerings either. Between first-party titles like Halo, third party console exclusives like Left 4 Dead and timed titles like Oblivion, the Xbox 360 was never wanting for the best options everywhere. In fact the Xbox Live Arcade program also generated top titles like Castle Crashers, Limbo and Braid – turning them into household names.

But there was a sense that the Xbox 360's greater aspirations as a mainstream portal for entertainment were restrained by hardware created before our current age of streaming video, tablets and smartphones. And this is the direction Microsoft have taken forward with the Xbox One.

Yes, when you look at it now, the Xbox One looks similar and holds familiar features but the whole experience if more fluid and functional than ever before. Despite its recognisable elements and concepts, the Xbox One still manages a genuine sense of wonder, all without losing sight of the strong gaming foundation the Xbox was built on. 

Hardware & Design

The nicest description we could manage for the Xbox One's new sleek design is "clean" — there's no crappy coating colour – Microsoft have designed the hardware to sit under the TV and to look like its supposed to be there for the long term.

The console lacks the profile and space-saving considerations of the PlayStation 4 — or even the original Xbox 360 but holds its own against set top boxes and TV hardware.  Even the Kinect 2.0 is bigger than the original sensor but the output and recognition is cleaner and more effective than ever before. Sadly, and I can’t spin this as a positive, the old power brick makes an unwelcome return.

The console is exceptionally quiet, and it runs relatively cool at all times. But if you’re looking for aesthetic subtlety, this is not the console for you. However, given the Xbox 360's notorious reliability problems, it's a little reassuring that the Xbox One was given so much room to breathe.

Like the PS4, the Xbox One has gone digital-only with its audio and video — you'll only find HDMI and optical audio ports. For network connectivity, Microsoft has added a gigabit Ethernet port and connects to wireless networks at 5GHz.

Probably the most disappointing area is the requirement to install all games to the hard drive which, although large, can still cause an issue as a single game can occupy as much as 50 GB — and that's before any DLC, expansions, or major title updates.

Lastly, unlike the Xbox 360, the Xbox One has a Blu-ray drive, meaning those of you with a soft spot for physical media won't need to keep a second device around. That drive is partnered with the a 500 GB internal hard drive, where all games are installed (so 10-15 games is about all you’ll get). Microsoft has however added a patch to support external storage post launch, a significant improvement from the expensive proprietary storage options available on Xbox 360.

 

Controller

Microsoft had the unenviable task of redesigning something that nobody thought was broken. The Xbox 360 controller was universally praised, so it shouldn't be surprising that the Xbox One controller is familiar. Improvements have been made to the triggers, which now feature rumble motors; the D-pad, which is now a cross; and the thumbsticks are now smaller and more accurate. It's a more comfortable controller – which we at Rajakaru didn’t think was possible – has a good amount of weight, and a great texture that makes it feel like a premium offering compared to the slippery Xbox 360 counterpart.

Thankfully the Xbox One controller features a more recessed space for the battery, as opposed to the large bump found on the back of the Xbox 360's controller. Additionally you won't spend a lot of time worrying about batteries. We have been able to play for over 15 hours before fully depleting a charge on our controllers. There are some nice features that coordinate with the Kinect system to monitor its use. When you put the controller down to watch a movie, it enters a low-power state. It’s a smart way of extending the utility of Kinect in a practical way.

The Xbox One also supports the Wi-Fi Direct standard for, well, direct wireless connections between devices. This kind of connection eliminates your wireless router from the equation, reducing latency and speeding up transfer speeds — which Microsoft is using for the Xbox One's new, improved version of SmartGlass (discussed later).

Interface

I, personally, don’t feel like a lot needs to be explained here. The interface is very similar to the Xbox 360 but reduces the multiple routes to locate individual titles and content. The coloured tiles are easier to navigate than the multiple cluttered pages that made up the Xbox 360's dashboard, and there's a clear, easy-to-understand hierarchy.

The Xbox One’s “out-of-the-box” interface wasn’t as clear as it is today but the various options are now much easier to track. The various patches have shown that Microsoft are listening to the users and making changes that we, as players, feel are important improvements.

My favourite addition by far, though, is the ability to skip entering codes for pre-order bonuses, DLC or other game downloads. Instead you can scan QR codes with the Kinect. It's fast and convenient, but makes the task of doing so on our Xbox 360s much more annoying than we had ever found it before.

The motion gestures and voice recognition is clear and easy to use. Obviously there is still an issue with other noises in the room but this was always an expected nuisance. Facial recognition ensures automatic login and profile changes on the fly which are nice, if not overly useful, features. It feels futuristic and cool in a way that little else about the new consoles does.

 

Xbox Live

Microsoft has every intention of making the Xbox One the centrepiece of your living-room entertainment experience. XBL has always been the big competitive advantage for Microsoft but Sony has made some headway with their improvements to the PlayStation Network.

Microsoft are trying to keep ahead though with their new television integration and One Guide feature as an augmentation to your existing cable or satellite provider. Navigating to TV shows and movies can now be controlled via voice commands — i.e., "Xbox, watch HBO" — which seems like something out of Minority Report. These voice commands also justify the TV functionality of the console, making it so that the only time you'd have to pick up your TV remote is to watch things you have on your recordings list.

Each application works much like you mobile phone and its seamless to jump from game to TV and back again. It can quickly be linked to the obvious want to put the Xbox One at the centre of everyone’s living room experience. Plus Twitch is now up and running so you can watch that too.

Skype on Xbox One has the potential to be huge. Kinect's ability to find speakers in a room and focus the camera on them is really neat. And answering a call with voice commands is pleasantly simple. Skype will run "under" games or other apps, allowing you to continue chat via the Kinect mic or the Xbox One headset while performing other tasks.

All of this depends on the system's seamless suspension of in-progress games and apps. This makes swapping between functions of the Xbox One a pleasure, rather than a chore.

It's worth mentioning that every app on Xbox One – except Skype “currently” – can also be snapped to the right side of the screen in a mini window, either by pressing the menu button on the app, or saying "Xbox, snap [app name]. Also not essential but worth noting is the fact that the Internet Explorer app is quicker than my 2011 Dell Laptop which, doesn’t mean it’s excellent, but is certainly suitably efficient at what it means to do.

Word of warning; all Xbox One consoles must be updated as soon as they're turned on for the first time. And all new games are the same. Once you have installed your updates though the actually inputs are much quicker and better calibrated than the Xbox 360. You recover your Xbox Live profiles in no time at all and you can switch your Kinect hardware off or on in seconds.

Microsoft makes it very clear from the start that it wants you to take your Xbox One profile with you. If you have an Xbox One, say, in another room you'd only need to walk into that room, have it recognise your face and it will sign you straight in (as long as you have recovered your gamertag there  before. Cloud saves on games work in the same way so you can pick up your Assassins Creed IV game exactly where you left it.

SmartGlass

The Smartglass feature for titles has been a small part of the Xbox 360 system for some time but is coming on leaps and bounds since hitting the Xbox One. Several announced titles will include this feature including “The Division” and “Fable Anniversary”. It is so easy to set up that it’s almost not worth missing the app on your Android, Windows Phone or iOS device.

Communication between your second-screen device and the Xbox One is significantly faster than with the original SmartGlass app. This is because the app connects directly to your console and not via the Xbox Live servers first. There's almost no perceptible latency between actions on one and the results on the other. This bodes well for potential second-screen implementation in games — immediate response could make your tablet device a viable alternative method of control.

 

 

Games

Let’s start with the bad news first: The Xbox One's hefty line-up of exclusive titles, at launch, wasn’t without some considerable misses. Crimson Dragon is a disappointing follow-through on its potential as a successor to Panzer Dragoon. LocoCycle is best summed up as rubbish with its amateur gameplay and racist overview. In face I think these games are so bad that I won’t even give them a score below. All the other titles however will get a brief but scored listing:

·         Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag                           9/10
·         Battlefield 4                                                          8/10
·         Call of Duty: Ghosts                                             7/10
·         Dead Rising 3                                                       7/10
·         Fifa 14                                                                   8/10
·         Forza Motorsport 5                                               9/10
·         Killer Instincts                                                      7/10
·         Kinect Sports Rivals                                             7/10
·         Lego Marvel Super Heroes                                   9/10
·         Maddan NFL 25                                                    6/10
·         Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes                     7/10
·         NBA 2K14                                                            4/10
·         NBA Live 14                                                         8/10
·         Need for Speed: Rivals                                          7/10
·         Plants vs. Zombie: Garden Warfare                      6/10
·         Rayman Legends                                                   8/10
·         Ryse: Son of Rome                                                6/10
·         Thief                                                                      7/10
·         Titanfall                                                                 9/10
·         Trials Fusion                                                         8/10
·         Zoo Tycoon                                                           7/10

AVERAGE – 7.3/10

There are however some very good titles available to date. Dead Rising 3 is technically impressive and a fun playground, but suffers from bad writing and uninventive controls. Titanfall, although not a launch title, has become almost as big a success story as any of the other FPS games vying for the Call of Duty crown. Thief has the atmosphere derived from a dark, smoky London but lacks gameplay mechanics to make the title last longer than one playthrough. Zoo Tycoon is a flawed but compelling game with a surprising amount of depth. Killer Instinct is a pretty decent reboot for the long-dormant franchise, despite some trepidation about its business model. And Forza Motorsport 5 is the best of the bunch, a strong evolution for the series despite a reduced number of tracks and cars.

The Xbox One is a hundred dollars more than its direct competition, and several third-party games run in lower resolution than they do on the PS4 which has concerned some. However, Sony hasn’t invested in other areas like Microsoft. If the PS4 is a Video Games system then the Xbox One is an entertainment hub.

Conclusion

Microsoft has insisted it has the software gamers want. But it's also maintained that this generation is about more than that. It's repeatedly outlined a vision for a console based around entertainment, apps and connected experiences, tied together by Kinect, which has been met with apprehension by the enthusiast audience.

To be clear, Kinect isn’t a fully realised product yet. The gesture supports are functional but the gaming inputs are lacking to say the least. The application store is also missing some big titles like HBO Go and Sky Sports but the television functionality impresses me greatly.

The integration of the system has been well constructed and the foundations have been set to keep the company, and the console, moving in the direction of the market. Yes, Sony may be ahead in sales right now but the Xbox One is already scoping an audience for a virtual reality market that Sony just won’t be able to compete with.

E3 this year may be more important than last, with rumours galore already hitting the Internet. Microsoft are being expected to announce many new AAA titles (like Halo 5) as well as their VR offering which should make for an interesting next 12 months. And that’s not even stating the remaining releases this year.

The Xbox One is an impressive marriage of software and hardware that raises the bar in terms of what we expect from a living-room machine. Looking forward more than it looks back, the Xbox One feels like it's from the future.

Read More

An Honest Advert for Trials Fusion

Trails Fusion is not a game for stressed individuals.



You can follow Richard on Twitter by clicking here.
You can follow Rajakaru Games on Twitter by clicking here.

Read More

Rajakaru Games' Favourite DLC

I’ve been going back over my old (if you can call it that) stash of Xbox 360 games. While I know the last generation is slowly falling behind us, it seems justified to create a list of DLC you should play now before the new generation fills in the void.

In fact I’ve basically decided to write this after I came full circle with the recent release of BioShock Infinite's much anticipated DLC Burial at Sea Part 2. It's clear to see that DLC is gaining a higher profile than ever before and developers are really starting to experiment with creative and enjoyable content. Therefore, I thought I'd take a look at some of the best single player DLC there is out there.

Honourable Mention: Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon

While it isn’t a true DLC piece for the original title the lasers, dinosaurs, cyborgs and 80s music creates a spectacular list of awesome things. It’s such an ironic plague on your sense that it makes you want to go back and play even more retro titles. It has nods to all our favourite titles of yesteryear and knows exactly what it is trying to accomplish. If you enjoyed the full Far Cry 3 title then this will be right up your street.

5. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn

When the dreaded “Horse Armour” hit our download stores back during the Oblivion era we were worried that Bethesda wouldn’t provide anything substantial for the acclaimed Elder Scrolls series. Thankfully they have become one of the best content providers on the planet producing a completely range for their titles; including Shivering Isles, Broken Steel and Old World Blues. However, the only one that allows you to fly dragons is that of Dragonborn for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

The immense amount of content that came alongside this piece gave players multiple additional hours of content, a couple of fresh new areas to explore and several enemies that should really have made the original cut. Bethesda listened to fan feedback and delivered on every area that we – games – wanted to do or see. For a game that I had already plugged 100 hours into this made, what was already, a great game outstanding.

4. Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker

One problem with single player DLC is making it matter in regards to the main narrative. Many developers opt for DLC that explores sub-plots but BioWare made the difference with this offering, They managed to successfully separate and impact on the overarching storyline for the whole trilogy.

Throughout the first two Mass Effect games we had heard about The Shadow Broker and were intrigued by the mystery surrounding them. In this DLC we finally got to meet them in dramatic fashion. It’s a fantastic success story for single player DLC and changed the dynamic of what would shortly become a trend for other titles.

What's great about this DLC is not just the excellent story and gameplay, but the fact that you can return to the Lair of the Shadow Broker and gather information on your enemies and your allies, absorbing us more into the delectable lore of Mass Effect.

3. Bioshock 2 - Minerva's Den

Bioshock 2 will forever be overshadowed by the both of the home developer options despite it excellently refining the gameplay and being just as good. However, the problem with Bioshock 2 is that many would have overlooked the amazing DLC that is Minerva's Den, as it was released several months after Bioshock 2's initial release and after some pretty standard multiplayer DLC which was a terrible design choice anyway.

Minerva's Den is standalone story in the world of Bioshock 2 that once again puts you into the shoes of a prototype Big Daddy. This time however you're taking out a sentient intelligence known as The Thinker. Not only does this DLC offer up more of the great gameplay that the title refined, but it tells a captivating story that is arguably more moving than that of the original game.

2. Red Dead Redemption - Undead Nightmare

Rockstar knows how to make DLC, but with Undead Nightmare for their cowboy epic they really excelled themselves. While the original title was excellent, this standalone single player DLC blended horror and comedy perfectly. At the time Zombies had become a really big area for media titles everywhere and this showed us just how well they could be implemented in Video Games.

Headshots were a necessity that changed the gameplay dynamics immensely. It was refreshing to see zombies posing a really danger as it was instant death if you go overrun. In fact the title was so successful that Rockstar ended up releasing it as a standalone game which showed how great the title was. John Marston and the wild west was the best setting for this DLC “dream” – excuse the pun.

1. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea (complete saga)

I know I have Minerva’s Den in this list but the BioShock series has excellent when providing us with something extra to play. Having just finished off part 2 (the Rajakaru Review is due shortly) I felt a deep sense of satisfaction I haven’t experienced since the finale of Final Fantasy IX. It is a massively rewarding piece of storytelling that ties up every loose end the franchise put in front of us.

In fact, Infinite feels a little incomplete if you haven’t played Burial at Sea (as does the entire franchise). Burial at Sea is the most import single piece of DLC on the planet and deserves top spot for bringing something completely fresh to an ageing series. One that has sadly finished forever now Irrational Game has closed.

Ken Levine will always be remembered for his fantastic story telling techniques and the studio is respected in every corner of the industry. 

So what do you think is the best DLC? Have I missed any classics off my list? Let Rajakaru know in the comments below.

Read More

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes - The Rajakaru Review

So, I’ve had a rant about my initial interpretations on Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes and, while I’m still convinced this is a poor attempt at a sale product, I do feel there the need to review this as the title it stands to be.

As Metal Gear games go, “Ground Zeroes” is a stripped down feature that avoids the typical norm by dropping lengthy cutscenes, climactic boss fights, and the usual frayed and tangled plot strands. Instead Hideo Kojima has played for a more action orientated title with smart, tactical gameplay and a central campaign that shows of the superb, effortlessly crafted sandbox style due to come with Phantom Pain.

While the central campaign is very short – hitting the steady heights of two hours – it does have a multitude of additional campaign missions to encourage replayability. Again these are set in the same locales but have different daytime cycles (some taking place during the day – while the main campaign is set during a rainy night) and weather condition (one particularly fun side mission sees you take to the camp during the height of summer). It’s an interesting dynamic that effectively changes the mechanics of each mission – enemies see clearly during the daytime, while rain muffles the sounds of Snakes movement. The weather genuinely changes the feeling of Omega Base too and it’s in these details that Ground Zeroes is most impressive. The world is wonderfully realised and presented sharply both indoors and outdoors.

For the first time in a Metal Gear game, Boss’ adventure is a non-linear one, played out in the US Naval Prison Facility known as Omega Base. It’s a small sandbox, where the corridors and rooms littered with conveniently placed containers we’ve grown so familiar with have been replaced with a sprawling, functional ecosystem, full of open industrial areas and heavily populated camps surrounded by a raging sea.

As this is the prologue for the upcoming, and full access title, Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (due 2015), you can see glimmers of previous demo titles in its structure. The tanker section from Sons of Liberty jumps straight to mind although with a much more expansive setting.

The plot here is a lot darker in tone than what we’ve come to expect from Hideo Kojima and that desire to make Metal Gear into a grittier, more provocative, series can be seen from the outset. While I do appreciate these ambitions – and the series had been a little cartoonish before – I found the ending, which features some horrendously graphic cruelty, quite uncomfortable (although I’m sure that is exactly what they wanted). In fact it’s in these cinematic moments that the Fox Engine doesn’t hold up so well. I agree with most fanboys (and girls) arguments that this is when the Engine is most stretched but the main gameplay looks far more interesting; with long draw distances, clear textures and individual personalities for each area.

But the problem here, and for a full retail priced title (as in the same as Rayman Origins that has 50+ hours of gameplay), it is over far too quickly. When I rushed through it, I was finished in less than an hour, but taking my time still only took my just under 3. The length might not bother those coming into the title knowing what it’s like but the casual gamer may not be so happy.

Ground Zeroes is so adept at generating tension that at times it felt like I was playing a survival horror game. While Boss has never been more flexible; able to roll and jump and shoot in line with today’s top third-person action-adventure games, enemies are smart and plentiful too. In the harsh light of day - and played on Hard mode - they possess cruel 20/20 vision, and react to every little movement or shifting shadow by becoming more efficacious in their patrolling.

However, you’re given a couple of helpful gameplay mechanics to counter this high pressure stealth system – on Hard mode these are essential. Firstly you get a pair of binoculars that allow you to ‘tag’ enemies to track their movements and also the Boss’ iDroid which provides map and mission information.

Obviously, with Ground Zeroes being an open world game, you can skip the sneaking completely and go in all guns blazing. It’s chaotic but immensely pleasurable at the same time; especially when you blow everything to hell in a tank.  

A few of the ‘side missions’ drop the action gameplay a little too hard – with one seeing you mow down enemies off the side of a helicopter – but they also give us a sense of the diversity being offered in the Phantom Pain title.

Otherwise, and it pains be slightly to say it, this is a fairly rounded but short offering. Yes, the title holds up well and looks lovely to boot but, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being short-changed. If I had to sum up Ground Zeroes in one attempt it’s like waiting for a train and then not being able to sit down when it arrives. You know the title has the gameplay you expect but by the end of it you feel like you’ve paid for more than you, as a minimum, deserve.

[I can’t quite believe I compared Ground Zeroes to Southern Rail]

Read More

Titanfall "A Kill Reel"

Titanfall has been on shop shelves for a few weeks now and the Rajakaru team have been killing as many pilots as possible.

See some of our best moments below.



You can follow Richard on Twitter by clicking here.
You can follow Rajakaru Games on Twitter by clicking here.

Read More

Video Review: Fist of Awesome

Timothy has been slaving over a new indie title during the last few nights... it has bears, aliens and beards (everything he needs to survive)


You can follow Tim on Twitter by clicking here.
You can follow Rajakaru Games on Twitter by clicking here.

Read More

The Biggest Xbox One Titles

When the Xbox One was released back in November 2013, it did so alongside a handful of great game: Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3 and Battlefield 4 to name a few. Since then, barring a few exceptions, there hasn’t been that much to play. 2014 however, will address this is with some massive titles due to hit from Bungie, Respawn, BioWare and more - below I’ll mention a few.

Alien: Isolation

Alien games are a bit like the films that take after, they have a massive amount of hype, they usually look pretty good, but they don’t tend to finish with anything substantial. While James Cameron’s sequel, Aliens, was all about the “BIG” guns and action, Ridley Scott’s original film was a thrilling ride of terror and the dread of being hunted by the most capable creature in the universe. Thankfully the recently announced game is more interested in the latter – unlike the often awful Colonial Marines from last year.

Isolation is due to take players back to the Nostromo mining ship from the original film where you will step into the shows of Ellen Ripley’s daughter Amanda. You’re searching for the ships black box in an attempt to find out what exactly happened to your mother. You are the prey and it’s all about survival of the fittest if you want to finish this title.

Below

Capybara made one of the most exciting games of last year in the form of Superbrothers: Sword and Sorcery. This iOS adventure featured charming visuals, an intriguing soundtrack and original gameplay design.

The studios next game, Below, will focus heavily on exploration and the synonymous question of permadeath. It’s narrative is formed through the adventure without any dialogue. Following on from Superbrothers will be a challenge but one I certainly feel they are up to completing. Original gameplay will be at the forefront again and this title is definitely something to keep your eye on.

Destiny

It wouldn’t be a successful list of 2014 games if we didn’t mention the galaxy traversing, planetary adventure of Desting. Those familiar with this file will have already made up their own opinion but Bungie are looking to seamlessly blend single and multiplayer experiences into this giant shooter.

Destiny is Bungie’s first crack at a new first-person shooter property since Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001. Looking at everything the developer accomplished over the past decade – setting new standards for writing, art, music, and multiplayer - it’s hard not to be excited about what’s coming next.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

The Dragon Age series already has a strong foundation, but with Inquisition, Bioware is going all out. The second instalment in the saga missed a lot of the target audience that the original had reached.  This third incarnation will bring with it new races, new creatures, an improved dialogue system, and is due to be powered by the amazing Frostbite 3 engine. The gameplay footage seen so far certainly looks the part but there is still some way to go for the RPG super-developer to reel in the general consumer market.

The most common complaints about Dragon Age 2 have been addressed in droves. There will be a stronger emphasis on open-world discovery, a large redaction of reused environments and an intelligent story to witness. This really could be something special.

Dying Light

Showing unmistakable touches from Dead Island, this first-person Zombie based parkour game will blend together the brutal melee combat of Left 4 Dead with fresh open-world gameplay. I’ve played it and can 100% confirm my enthusiasm for this new franchise.

You play a survivor trapped in a zombie apocalypse; dealing with human survivors as much as the standard “walking dead” and both will try to stop you at every opportunity. You’ll find some interesting side quests – missing children and trapped families – as well as a day/night cycle that will increase the size of the zombie hordes you’ll encounter on foot and therefore the danger.

There are also the typical ‘special’ zombie offerings; and the one wearing a hazard suit is my particular favourite.

The Elder Scrolls Online

This epic title from Bethesda is what most people consider to be the first real MMO on consoles. I know we could class Final Fantasy XI and Defiance but this is the first ‘heavyweight’ to reach the genre. Taking in the whole of Tamriel, this giant fantasy world will be littered with everything from the Imperial City to Morrowind and you can traverse the world in a host of interesting ways.

A first-person mode was added after E3 last year to help the game feel more like the usual Elder Scrolls affairs but, even so, will the $15.00 monthly subscription model hold up.

Evolve

Turtle Rock, the original creators of Left 4 Dead are doing it again, with this horror epic. A four player coop survival game evolving from their previous zombie hit. Each player takes over the role of one of four human characters – with differing roles and classes – in order to take down a Goliath.

The Goliath is a human-controlled monster that grows as the match goes on. The players must work together to get through each chapter and the action looks explosive. We are happy that Turtle Rock has made a bold choice here, with a genre they are comfortable with, and this could be another new AAA-title, and no doubt subsequent franchise, to watch.

Fable Legends

After the recent release of Fable Anniversary I am much more excited about this title than ever before. Taking place 400 years before the original, during Albion’s “Age of Heroes”, this title is designed for four player co-op.

The best thing though, and certainly the part everyone will want to play, is that a fifth counterpart controls the villain. They will be able to set traps, enemies and ambushes from a top-down perspective in order to stop our heroes from completing their quest.

This take on the pen-and-paper RPG dungeon master system is ambitious, and it’s a breath of fresh air for Microsoft’s role-playing series.

Halo 5

While we don’t know an awful lot about the next chapter of the Reclaimer Sage we certainly know that it’ll be a crowd pleaser. 343 Industries did exceptionally well with Halo 4 and with the new generation of consoles being in place we are in for so much more. Expect Halo 5 (although this title name could change) to run at 1080p and 60fps for the first time in the series history. It’s widely known that dedicated servers are in too.

Meanwhile, the director from the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, Timothy Longo, is also leading the story. Cortana is gone and the battle with the Didact is still in full swing. I wouldn’t be surprised if gameplay is shown at E3 this year with a release early 2015.

LEGO: The Hobbit

The LEGO games have grown massively in popularity and quality over the past few years; encompassing Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Marvel, Harry Potter, and more. The next stop for the big brick train is The Hobbit – or more specifically up until the conclusion of Desolation of Smaug.

Obviously the usual mechanics will come into play with a multitude of playable characters, an interesting world to explore and more content then your regular titles. This will be a fun family game that everyone should enjoy.

Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes

So, this has technically been released (review to follow shortly) but the overall plan is for this to bridge the gap between now and when the Phantom Pain finally hits shelves next year. Brace yourselves, the title takes place in 1975 and stars Snake. It’s set in a small but very fun sandbox with the foundations coming from the brand new Fox engine (which basically looks amazing).

Ground Zeroes takes a cue from Peace Walker, adopting the base-building feature used to upgrade weapons and items. In stark contrast to past Metal Gear Solid games, the story missions can be played in any order -- supposedly without sacrificing the player’s understanding of the plot.

Minecraft

Minecraft’s impact on gaming can’t be understated. Collecting materials, surviving, and building whatever and wherever you can imagine is unbelievably satisfying. It’s simple, but wildly addictive, which means almost anyone can get in on the fun. Whether you build a simple wooden cabin or an intricate underground transportation system, every completed project feels like a huge success.

Mojang’s survival game has been on the Xbox 360 since 2012, but with the release of the Xbox One, and the inevitable migration of players to the new platform, it’ll be great to see Minecraft transition into the new generation.

Project Spark

Playing is creating and creating is playing. This is the pitch for Project Spark, which puts the power to shape a game world into your hands. The beta has been a resounding success story and looks like a fresh take on the Minecraft creation formula. Level designs, even in this brief version, have been varied and interesting.

What enemies do you want? What towns do you build? What is the environment like? What game genre are you going for? Whether it’s and RPG or a Tower Defence title, you will decide. You can even go as far so the AI intuition of the NPCs. This looks like taking the “Little Big Planet” formula to a whole new level.

Tom Clancy's The Division
From the moment this was unveiled; this persistent, gorgeous and apocalyptic action title had my interest. The Snowdrop engine is wonderful to behold - just watch the trailer – and the New York City of “tomorrow” is grey, dank but full of intrigue. I wouldn’t be surprised if this missed 2014 completely but by the end of the year we should have seen enough of the title to confirm its amazingness.     

It’s a squad-based third-person MMO, where you and your squad of friends work together to try and scavenge and survive against other groups. Its big and ambitious and also utilises everything the Xbox One has pinned its hopes on. It has Smartglass, it has Kinect functions and it integrates its online gameplay seamlessly (play Titanfall for some hints).

Watch Dogs

This futuristic open world adventure game has a very “big brother” feel to it. Unfortunately it seems to have lost some momentum since its release data delay (as this was originally touted as a launch title) but is looking very polished. Scheduled, now, to release in May we feel the title is starting to get it’s mojo back.

Being able to hack everything is an interesting concept and the gameplay videos, of which there are many, have kept this quietly – but confidently – ticking over. Its second-screen experience actually looks like it might be interesting, while its always-connected over a blended single-player/multiplayer experience it could lend a surprisingly delightful element of unpredictability to your hacking affairs.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

This is probably my most anticipated game on this whole list. The Witcher 2, while not completely adverse of issues, was a fantastic title full of depth, dark storylines and menacing gameplay. CD Projekt have set up an unenviable task for themselves – looking to created an open-world game with all the strengths that kind of layout can provide (hidden areas, great side-stories), all without sacrificing an effective, overarching storyline.

This is even more impressive when you think back to the previous ‘Witcher’ titles as these were far more closed but did feature well-written, mature plots.


Unlike Skyrim, which many people are comparing this against; the enemies of Wild Hunt won’t scale to your level. This means you can stumble upon enemies that are much more powerful than you. So, while exploration will be exciting and rewarding, it will also be considerably more dangerous than it is many open world games. Let’s not forget, of course, that Witcher games have always looked incredible, and seeing what CD Projekt can pull off with the Xbox One should be a treat.

Read More