The last time I touched Xbox was with the 360, and only because I needed to test used games to sell on eBay. But I've wanted to try out modern Xbox to see if things like GamePass and what exclusives they do have is worth it. Especially since on the used market, Xbox One games can be cheaper than PS4 games. With the loose justification of buying Conkers Bad Fur Day as my target price I bought Rare Replay and a Xbox One. --- Console Hardware --- The Xbox I got was the Original Xbox One, mostly because it was cheap, and because I got [the Halo 5 version](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/7d989922-2433-4ac2-a05c-15f5be410bbb.jpeg). I don't play Halo, but I love the aesthetics and blue accents. I wanted the Xbox One S since it's smaller and I like the design better. But I had a hard rule of "not buying white" and the color variants aren't as appealing. From first boot to getting my games installed, I can tell a lot of care an attention went into the hardware and the UI. Might be my imagination, but the interface feels snappier than it does on PS4. And the store is actually usable and not bloated like Sony tends to do later into a console life cycle. I wish there was more customization to the menu, but there is a clear aesthetic which Xbox wanted to have for their console, and I can respect that. The Xbox One controller has now become the "default" controller for me. Everything targets it, and since it now has a functional d-pad (looking at you 360), it's good. I prefer the musher feeling of a Nintendo D-Pad and shoulder buttons (or bumper as Xbox calls them). But it's a solid controller and with using AA batteries rather than LiPo, it'll last as long as I take care of it. I really like the overall package. The only thing I wish I could do is test the HDMI In on the system. But I am pretty sure it's broken or defective. No a problem for a Games Box, but it is annoying. --- Games --- I got my Xbox One for one game, Rare Replay. And if I am honest, it plays fine. While I will praise Xbox for not mucking about with the interface there is no denying that this is a game box from 2013. Games play just as well as they do on PS4, and has the same level of support as the PS4 does. I feel it's interesting that all games even disc ones install to the system. As I know not all games on PS4 like LittleBigPlanet 3 still run parts of the game from the disc itself. Overall the quality of Xbox One was about as much as I expected it to be. No worse than PS4, and maybe better at times. --- Game Pass --- Nah the big draw for me was two thing, Game Pass and Backwards Compatibility (which is the next section). Game Pass to me has always been the much needed revival of game rentals. For a modest fee, you get access to a treasure trove of games from just about everyone. And I got to try just about every game I wanted to try for my system. To build a list of games I wanted to play/try. Unfortunately for Xbox, many of the Game Pass games I've played, like Nickelodeon All Stars 2, Physconaughts 2, and Persona 3 Reloaded, are games I feel I want to play on other consoles or PC's. I liked them, but I don't want them to be tied down to the system. While other times they offered me experiences to stay away from, or confirmed that they were games I wouldn't like. But there are a few games which I honestly didn't think of or needed to play myself which I will be populating my Xbox with, and maybe even moving over to Xbox for. Like Sunset Overdrive, Halo 5, and Forza Horizons 5. Heck I tried Assassin's Creed Origin's and honestly I prefer to play it on Xbox rather than PS4. Plus the benefit I can have all the original games on one system is really tantalizing. Especially since the original 4 games can be found at bargain bin pricing at any good thrift store. --- Backwards Compatibility --- Which neatly brings me to Backwards compatibility. Like the native games, disc games are installed via the web rather than run off of disc. And I am fine with that. And it runs soooo well. Honestly I feel it's worth owning an Xbox One for the Backwards Compatibility alone. Sure not every game works. But most of the ones you'll want to play are here. I've been replaying the crap out of Saints Row 2, and finally getting the chance to enjoy Saints Row 1. Or at least I was until the Xbox Servers went down. --- Online --- Now I've always known Xbox as the online gaming console. For the guys looking for achievements and playing Call of Duty with friends. But that's not me. I just want to play Rare Replay and other single player games. But man has online gaming on consoles gotten bad since I last checked on PS3. I couldn't even start EA's Star Wars Battlefront II, with them demanding I make an account with them (or link my Xbox one to theirs). Most Xbox games I played almost expect you to be playing online and have that lobby menu thingy along side it. Guys I just want to play Halo, I don't even have the friends to even try co-op with. Nope, but what killed any recommendation for this system was when Xbox's servers went offline, and my Xbox immediately turned into a brick. Sure I could look at things. But no game I installed would boot, not even my disc games and the system won't work unless I am signed in. Even my backwards compatible games refused to load a save until I remounted the "cloud storage". On PS4 or Switch this isn't an issue, but if it was, one could make a Guest account, or an offline account. But that's not possible on Xbox. It's required that any account on any Xbox has to have a Microsoft account attached with it. Even for kids. This wasn't a requirement on 360, and I remember Microsoft being a laughing stock of E3 2013 with their whole, "online only thing" and "Discs being locked to a single console". And while we didn't get the latter, I am shocked that the Xbox community is OK with the former. But I wouldn't blame Xbox for this, as this decision has corporate Microsoft's hand prints all over it. Mandatory log in are now apart of even Windows 11. Ads taking up the lower third of your screen is also being baked into other aspects of Microsoft's software too. --- Conclusion --- And what's tragic is that this strong arming is hurting the end user experience on their hardware. I can't in good faith recommend an Xbox to friends or family, especially since if they want their kids to play Minecraft, they have effectively two choices. Let Microsoft track their kids and their every movement, or give their kids access to daddy's credit card since they have to use his account. But as I said, I don't blame the Xbox team for this, I blame corporate Microsoft. And for the services and continuing support for what is a 10+ year old console at this point. I am extremely impressed. Xbox One is still an extremely viable system in 2024 and I don't feel it's been outright abandoned like other systems of it's age, like the Wii U. Honestly who I would recommend an Xbox to is the same demographic I use to see playing Xbox, teenagers. It's cheaper than a PC, plays almost all of the same games, and if they want to play online they'll need to jump through the same hoops. And unlike Sony or Nintendo, who've destroyed their previous game console's library during the transition to newer hardware. I feel I can at least trust that Microsoft will continue to bring forward their game library to whatever they do next. Yes Sony has more exclusives. But that's quickly becoming a very short list, as they've languished in the years which the PS4 has had dominance. So If you don't want a PC which is the only other hardware with a larger game catalogue, or don't want to deal with the shoehorned in third party drm for every publisher. Then the Xbox isn't a bad platform to invest into, especially if you want to explore new games you want to try that's available on Game Pass.

Jokes aside. I wanted to do a fun numbers game and see if I could get an Xbox One and Rare Replay for the price of the N64 copy of Conkers Bad Furday. And it turns out I can. Conkers Bad Furday on N64 costs around $150-$175CAD (before tqx) given the condition and its shipping location. Meanwhile I was able to pick up Rare Replay for $10CAD at my local EB Games, and I was able to find Xbox Ones for as low as $100CAD, but on average around $140CAD. This particular Xbox One was $160 at the end of the day, a bit over budget, but I love the colors and design. Even if I don't play Halo. Totals Xbox One - $121.39 + $25 Shipping + 21.96 tax = $168.35 Rare Replay - $7.99 + $1.20 tax = $9.19 Total - $177.54 CAD

Got the games years ago for the GBC, and I've always love it. But I always got stuck in a handful of dungeons. Level 3, level 4, level 6, and finally the black tower. But I was finally able to solve it myself with no hints! This is in my view one of the best Zelda games.

From the videos description: News on what the UK government response means on the issue of game destruction by publishers! It's not all awful, just most of it! Also, some news on how the campaign to end game destruction is going internationally. Relevant links below: Australian Petition: https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN6080 UK Petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/659071/ Canadian Petition: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4965 https://stopkillinggames.com

Recently I got myself a new game bundle, and in amongst the games that I actually wanted to play, was one called Tinykin. For me a game like Tinykin would just get added to my library and languish for years until I decide to play it, or remember I even had it. See my Turnip Boy post for a case in point. But I want to start doing better and give all the games in bundle I get at least a few minutes in the spotlight. So when I installed and tried out Tinykin, I wasn’t very impressed, and yet I found myself unable to put it down. Which made me want to take a closer look at it. I feel that my intrigue with this game, comes primarily from it’s gameplay. At it’s core, Tinykin is a collect-a-thon platformer akin to Banjo Kazooie, or a Spyro the Dragon. Where you are given a giant level to explore with various paths, hubs and areas. With lots of things to do, things to collect, and activities to complete for more rewards. But unlike other platformers, where you unlock new moves as you play, slowly expanding both your abilities and the world, in Tinykin you get Pikm… cough cough. I mean Tinykin of various colours and abilities that will expand your abilities and things you can do. From interacting with object in the world, to destroying obstacles, getting to new areas that you couldn’t before and solving various puzzles. Movement is where this game truly shines. While these worlds feel gigantic, exploring them never felt tiring. There’s this methodical rhythm that guides you through the entire game making platforming never dull. I fell this is part due to the game excellent aesthetics and music, but also because the game is jammed packed with something for you to do and to interact with. And it’s in the interaction with this game, which initially tripped me up and made it seem a whole lot less impressive then it actually is. The game heavily relies on narrative to push you along and gets you started. But the walls of text the game expects you to read and go through, just put me off. I think there is a good narrative here, but I wasn’t able to pay attention to it. At least not until the end, when there is finally a character that is voiced. Thankfully I was able to play the game, without deliberately talking to a single NPC, objectives can be found, and completed at my discretion and on my own time. Tinykin is an oddly relaxing and wholesome game, where there are no villains, no enemies to fight, no bosses to beat, and no twist villains. Tinykin is just a simple, plane Jane platformer, with a simple gimmick, and unique aesthetic that give this game a unique identity. While for me I probably won’t be replaying it. I have a feeling trying to collect everything would be a chore, and the lack of voice acting doesn’t help starting the levels fresh. I do feel this is a game I want to recommend. It’s not the most impressive platformer I’ve played, but it has this calm and simple enjoyability that I don’t think I’ve seen in another platformer.

When I saw a new game release called Turnip Boy Robs a Bank, it piqued my curiosity. Such a contrasting tone in both the gameplay visuals and setting that I wanted to know more. Then I saw that this isn't Turnip Boy's first outing, when he committed another crime in his first debut game, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. For $5 on Steam and GOG it was tempting, but when I saw I already owned it on Epic Games, which I got during one of those Free Promotions. It's hard not to give it a try. So what is this wholesome game? Well it's a top down action game, and I'm tempted to call it a Zelda Title. Mostly due to the various puzzles including moving blocks, bomb-able walls and a portal... planter. But it feels and controls more like a twin stick shooter, especially since there is no dungeons to explore. The gameplay is fun, but a bit too fetch questy which usually ends with you getting, or finding a document. Like a bill, a wanted poster, or a tax document, where you will proceed to rip it up. Turnip Boy is hysterical in just how much of a jerk he can be. He doesn't want to pay his taxes and he will do everything to avoid it. I love a game were the protagonist has a personality that isn't just a blank slate. But while there is a lot I like about this game. I will be echoing a common criticism of this game, it's length. For a byte size adventure it's fine, especially for a "free" game or a $5 game. But for the price it's asking ~$15 I would've love to see a extra "boss"/"dungeon". The post game endless train combat arena is nice, but needs more enemies and variety to not feel like the repetitive slog it turns into after the second round of fighting the same 4 bosses. But when it's on sale, which it often is, it's definitely a fun adventure that's worth getting. And from what it sounds like when Turnip Boy robs that bank, it should be a better experience.

I was in a weird mood this week and wanted to re-play a PS2 game. I haven't felt in the mood to replay Breaking Da Rules since I made a video about it 9ish years ago (according to YouTube). For those of you who either weren't born yet when this came out, or were too old to play these kinds of license games. This is your generic Platformer with [INSERT FRANCHISE HERE] slapped on it. Akin to a Spongebob Squarepants, or DuckTales. This time it was The Fairly OddParents, based on their first Season of episodes. Where the levels are based off of various settings shown in the episodes or at times, ripping of the plot completely. While at times the story is a bit weak, I feel most of my complaints are nick picking compared to the quality which other license games had at the time. Especially since the graphics are, at time, some of the better ages graphics I can remember from the time. It's nothing remarkable, but aesthetically the game feels like it was ripped right from the episode. Or at least it is for small characters, larger models are PS1 Hargrid levels of bad and funny. The gameplay has also held up well. It's not anything special, nor anything I haven't seen before. Outside of Vertical Camera controls there's a good variety and no two levels feel the same. Now it's defiantly not worth going out to get a PS2 or a GameCube out to play this game. It's good but not that Good. However it's a fun game to emulate, especially the PS2 port in PCSX2. Wide screen is fantastic, increase in the resolution makes the games aesthetics looks even better... and the jank even more noticeable. For a game over 20 years old, it's held up well all things considered.

This year I was recommended Terra Nil, a "reverse city builder" as the developer Free Lives call it in the store page. From screenshots and what gameplay I did see of it, my mind raced to games like SimCity 3000 and the potential of destroying a run down, or decaying city and returning it to nature. What I played wasn't really that. While yes, the last level involves cleaning up a Radioactive city that is flooded. This is less of a reverse SimCity, and more Zoo Tycoon or Jurassic World Evolution, where I am trying to get pens to fit an animal's preferred habitat. The scale is just a lot greater. What would be a medium size SimCity 3000 map, is now a desolate waste land, where futuristic instant machines and tools clean up the land. Then give the habitat life. There is also a bit of a Puzzle game element to it too, where you have "optional" objectives that involve changing the environment. Making it more, or less suitable for specific animals, and cataloguing them. I feel that this is the main crux of the game, and it's fun. With gorgeous visuals, beautiful music, and a fun gameplay loop. I was left wishing there was more. With 4 unique maps, that have a alternative location, there is lots to do here. I picked this up during a Winter Sale, and while it's main asking price of $33 CAD is a bit for how short the game is, the ~$25 CAD I paid for it on sale is perfect for this bite sized adventure.

New Super Mario Bros, I think can be described in just one word. Good. It's not fantastic, I know I've [played better platformers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LittleBigPlanet_(2009_video_game)), more [memorable games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac_%27n_Roll) with [a lasting impression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger) and from around this time. And yet, I will always compare these games to the quality of Good that Nintendo and this game has set here. Back in the day this was a big game, as it was the first new 2D Mario game since Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Not that gamers were lacking with 2D Mario with the onslaught or re-releases on the GBA. But looking back on it now, this game is lacking quite a lot in terms of power ups, there's only 2, and the very linear level progression. There is a lot more replay value than I remember, especially with worlds 3 and 7 being optional. But at a time where I can play New Super Mario Bros Wii, or U on my Laptop, there's very little in the way that makes this game stand out today. It's gimmick is short lived, it does nothing which previous Mario games didn't do already, or did better. And while it is a very fun game to replay, my entire time replaying it, made me want to play another game. Which brings me back to the top of the page. If I had to describe New Super Mario Bros in a word. I would use good. But I know it could've been better.

Thanks to the recent Ubisoft Giveaway, I was able to get my hands on Assassin's Creed Syndicate for the low low price of... free. I was waiting to get it on PS4 for a few bucks since I wouldn't have to use the UPlay, sorry Ubisoft Connect Client. But free is a better deal. My thoughts on the game as simple. Assassins Creed Revelations must've been a pretty high peek for Assassins Creed to fall so low. Not just because the gameplay was so formulaic that I experienced everything the game had to offer after the first boss fight. But the game offered so little new in terms of gameplay and variety that I was done with the game only after offing half of the baddies. And I don't think that this is the fault of a bland game design. But an issue of either a slow narrative, or lack thereof. You meet a colourful cast of characters from a Little Girl running a children information network, a man with a top hat with a B, and a Woman dressed in a nice 3 piece suit who runs a... smuggling... thingy. I genuinely can't remember these people since they are introduced and the only time I see them is in, in-game icons showing that I helped them by working on the gang. Even the main Character Eve and Jacob (who I kept calling Jacob , Edward throughout the game since he acts just like Kenway), barely talk with each-other. And the only time they do is when you meet [INSERT HISTORIC FIGURE HERE]. Or when Eve is cleaning up Jacob after a rampage. I feel with a repetitive game like a Ubisoft title, the game needs a more compelling narrative, like we'd eventually see in Assassins Creed Odyssey, but that game has it's own issues. Issues which I can feel take their roots in this game with a very spongy combat system. Thank god a knife in the throat or a bullet through the head will kill anyone irrespective of their "Level". What's worse is that on PC, the game would crash for seemingly no reason, causing my PC to Blue Screen more time than I care to remember. But the sad thing about this is, I'd prefer to play it over Odyssey. Is it tedious? Yes, but you can use the mechanics to get around it. Is the story slow? Yes, but it is mercifully short and unoffensive. Tie that along with an beautiful score from Austin Wintory, which I will be exploring later, and the game is a passable experience. There is a much more memorable game in the first two Assassin's Creed games then here, but for the price of Free, or what I see the XBone version of this game going for, it's not a bad way to kill a week.

and I can see where it got it's reputation for being one of the best single player FPS campaigns. Especially since the last FPS campaign I played was Wolfenstein (2009). What I liked about it was it's length, this can be beaten in a day if you wanted to, or if you like taking your time, about 1-4 play sessions. The gun variety was good, the gameplay variety and scenarios was fantastic. I also liked how at times the game turned into a platformer. That being said, this isn't a game I feel inclined to play again. For the $5 I spent on it, the game is fantastic, but I've defiantly played better shooter campaigns (looking at you Splatoons 1-3), and better FPS campaigns (Wolfenstein: The New Order). This is a solid B tier game, or if this was the 90's and early 2000's, a solid rental recommendation. With that said, I can only advise the PC version if you plan to go online. If you are playing signal player you might want to get the PS4 or XBONE versions since Origin/EA App is needed to run even the signal player campaign. It's annoying and has been an issues for those with Steam Decks apparently. Solid Recommendation from me, but get the console versions first if you have that as an option and don't care for Online. Or get it on Steam for like $3-$6 like it was in the last steam sale.

It's been over 10 years since the release of the Xbox One. I've had no need to buying one since I had a PC, and a Switch. Ever since they made the Xbox One S, I've kind of been looking it for the Rare Replay Collection. Since it's $10 Conkers Bad Furday and every other great Rare game. But I can't find it in myself to pad out it's library enough to justify buying an whole console. And buying hardware just to play one game doesn't sit well with me. Here's how I've been handing my games thus far. - PC - for Multiplayer and cross platform games from this generation, since I refuse to pay for PS Plus and Xbox Live Gold - PS4 - for Sony exclusives & games better played on consoles, i.e. Assassin's Creed and Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order - Switch - for indi games and exclusives Outside of Halo and Forza (which I was thinking of looking into), are there any other games exclusive too, or better on Xbox which might be missing.