Xbox Series S – 1TB – Page 4 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Could the Shattered Space expansion reinvigorate gamers’ interest in Starfield?

June 26, 2024June 18, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers!

It has been months since I finished my first playthrough of Starfield on my Xbox Series X. I really enjoyed the massive sci-fi role-playing game (developed by Bethesda Game Studios) but I should say that there were technical glitches and some creative shortcomings that got in the way. While it is indeed a really good game, I have not replayed it ever since.

In fact, I have been waiting for the developers to keep on patching and refining Starfield as much as possible, plus I have been anticipating the release of the promised expansion Shattered Space.

During the recent 2024 Xbox Games Showcase (also referred to as Xbox Showcase), Bethesda and Team Xbox released the official trailer of Starfield: Shattered Space and also went the extra mile announcing new stuff for Starfield players to check out. Watch the trailer as well as the June 2024 video below…

Bethesda described Shattered Space as follows:

The home planet of House Va’ruun remains a mystery to the vast majority of the citizens of the Settled Systems. The religious zealots that make up this clandestine faction are known only by their dangerous reputation. When a distress signal originating from a derelict star station leads you on a path to Va’ruun’kai, you’ll begin to uncover the secrets surrounding the followers of the Great Serpent. Explore a new location, take on new enemies and experience the story of House Va’ruun when Shattered Space launches later this year.

*A lot of mystery await gamers in the Shattered Space expansion for Starfield.*

I can say that the concept of exploring the home world of House Va’ruun is not only intriguing but clearly the next creative step for Starfield. House Va’ruun’s troops and agents are indeed formidable foes to fight and I have been eager to find out more of them in the game. I can only hope that apart from refining the game, Todd Howard and his team will come up with a rock-solid story, more engaging gameplay experiences and maybe a few new characters to introduce as they focus on House Va’ruun.

Don’t forget that there is a huge fanbase of Starfield gamers who are literally hungry for more content that is no less fun and captivating. Perhaps the Shattered Space expansion will reinvigorate both fans and new gamers’ interest in Starfield.

If there is anything lacking with the Shattered Space part of the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, it is the lack of a firm release date. For me, “coming in 2024” is unsatisfying and uncertain. It should be noted that other games at the showcase had no firm release dates. Perhaps Bethesda and Team Xbox will release Starfield: Shattered Space during the first or second week of September 2024 (note: Starfield itself was released on September 6, 2023).

Watch out for Starfield: Shattered Space on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Windows PC.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Better than Streaming: Do you have Cloak & Dagger (1984) 4K Blu-ray in your collection?

June 24, 2024December 19, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back, fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!

Decades ago, I saw on home video Cloak & Dagger (1984) which turned out to be an entertaining film to watch as I was already playing games on Atari 2600 and the arcades. After replaying by chance on cable TV years later, I finally bought myself the 4K Blu-ray and it sure was fun to watch it all over again. Check out my retro movie review of it by clicking here.

*The front of my copy of Cloak & Dagger (1984) 4K Blu-ray.*

*The rear with the details that can be read.*

For the newcomers reading this, Cloak & Dagger (1984) is a movie that involved then video game giant Atari in the creative process. The movie’s plot is not based on Atari’s arcade game of the same name (previously titled as Agent X).

Cloak & Dagger (1984) its own original plot of espionage about a young boy Davey (played by Henry Thomas, the star of Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial) who witnesses a murder and receives an Atari 5200 cartridge of the game Cloak & Dagger that contains something very important. This in turn makes him a target of armed henchmen who won’t stop until they get him. Due to his reputation of being too playful and living with his wild imagination as a spy, people don’t believe Davey’s claim of witnessing a murder. This film happens to be inspired by the short story “The Boy Cried Murder” written by Cornell Woolrich.

*Cloak & Dagger in arcade form. Atari released it in the form of an arcade conversion kit aimed at arcade machines of certain games of its competitors.*

The Cloak & Dagger arcade game can be played on your game console with the Atari 50 collection software (over 100 games). This screenshot I captured while playing it on my Xbox Series X console running Atari 50.

A few weeks ago, my copy of the Cloak & Dagger 4K Blu-ray arrived and it came with two discs: One 4K Blu-ray disc which contained the movie in native 4K (scanned in UHD from the 35mm film) resolution of 3840 x 2160p. The other disc has the same movie in HD (1920 x 1080p) plus the extra stuff which can provide viewers and Cloak & Dagger fans a good amount of important content which will help them learn what the video game elements in the film are, what inspired its creative process and why the film is very unique by today’s standards. There is also an informative new interview with Henry Thomas.

Since then, I saw Cloak & Dagger in 4K twice on my Xbox Series X and its 1080p version on a standalone Blu-ray disc player. Cloak & Dagger in 4K looks better than ever as the picture quality is better, images look sharper and clearer, the colors are vibrant, the small visual details (which were not visible in lower resolution before) are more noticeable now, and film grain structure has been preserved intact!

*The two discs. The one on the right is Cloak & Dagger in 4K.*

As for the story itself, I still find it engaging and enjoyable to watch from start to finish. Cloak & Dagger is clearly a production of its time as it carries clear Cold War references – the Soviet Union and Iran are the evil forces told in very subtle fashion – as well as video game elements and brands (note: ColecoVision even appeared in this Atari-influenced movie) that dominated America’s console gaming market long before PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox arrived. For a movie aimed at parents and children, this one has really intense violence as it involves shooting and even some elements of terrorism.

Ultimately, I got a lot of enjoyment from my Cloak & Dagger (1984) 4K Blu-ray and I highly recommend it to Cloak & Dagger fans, gamers, physical media collectors and anyone who loves watching movies in the comfort of home. Cloak & Dagger (1984) is a very unique and fun movie that Hollywood does not make anymore. You really should see it.

In case you are interested or if you have made up your mind, you can order a copy of Cloak & Dagger (1984) 4K Blu-ray by clicking here.

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

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Gears of War: E-Day was the pleasant surprise of the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase

June 19, 2024June 14, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers!

With the exception of a certain 3^rd party games that turned out to be a creative misfires respectively, the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase (also referred to as Xbox Showcase) was clearly a powerful showcase of future games on the Xbox ecosystem and the 1^st party games of Team Xbox displayed is the most exciting bunch yet!

As mentioned before, we are now living in the age of Microsoft-owned Activision, Blizzard, King and Bethesda, and Team Xbox has many game studios as a result. The 2024 Xbox Games Showcase is just the taste of many exciting and fun 1^st party games coming out in the near future (including the Game Pass services for Xbox and PC) with titles like the Perfect Dark reboot, the Fable reboot, South of Midnight, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and more.

Among the many 1^st party games showcased was Gears of War: E-Day which turned out to be the most pleasant surprise as many people heavily anticipated Gears of War 6 and the Marcus Fenix Collection. On my part, I anticipated GOW6 and a Gears Tactics sequel to be announced but what was unveiled officially was both intriguing and captivating. To find out more what Gears of War: E-Day is about, watch the official unveiling below…

Being made by The Coalition using the Unreal 5 engine (the same engine used in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II), Gears of War: E-Day is the origin story that depicts the horror of Locust invasion on Emergence Day through the eyes of the iconic Marcus Fenix. For the newcomers reading this, Emergence Day refers to the event when the Locus Horde emerged from the depths of the planet Sera and started major assaults on human cities causing massive counts of deaths. Chronologically, Gears of War: E-Day is set fourteen years before the events of the original Gears of War game.

As seen in the above trailer, Marcus Fenix looks younger and you can see him struggling in what seems to be his first-ever personal and physical fight with one of the Locusts. There is also a subtle reference in the video that sends gamers a message – the MK1 Lancer is here and it is NOT the chainsaw-equipped gun that became the iconic weapon of choice in the Gears of War franchise. Again, the story of this upcoming game is set more than a decade before the first GOW and The Coalition developers have planned some changes that will impact not only the interactive experience but also the storytelling.

*Do you recognize the eyes of Marcus Fenix in this image? The high level of detail of Unreal Engine 5 combined with the digital artistry of The Coalition make a great combination!*

Gears of War: E-Day is looking like a very welcome addition to not only its franchise but also for future releases on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC, as well as for Game Pass subscribers among Xbox and PC gamers. I doubt that a version of the game will be released on aging Xbox One consoles. As to when will the new game be released, I am speculating it would be in November 2026 as that month would mark the 20th anniversary of the release of the original GOW. It is also possible that Microsoft will release the next-generation Xbox console on that same month as well.

Gears 5 was the last main Gears of War game I played during the final months of the existence of my old Xbox One console. I played Gears Tactics on my Xbox Series X a few years ago which was fun experience. That being said, Gears of War: E-Day is the next GOW game to look forward to.

I certainly hope that The Coalition will STOP implementing wokeness, identity politics and foolish feminism (present in Gears of War 4 and Gears 5) into the new game and just make Gears of War: E-Day be much more like the original Gears of War of 2006…a war story about a band of brothers (the grunts) who risked their lives to accomplish mission objectives. The original Gears of War had the vibe of 1980s Hollywood action cinema – specifically from Predator (1987) – and I want to see that implemented in the new game.

*Here is hoping that this prequel will be released within two years’ time. Xbox fans have waited long for 1st party exclusive games to be released in this current console generation.*

You can learn more about Gears of War: E-Day by clicking https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/06/09/gears-of-war-e-day-interview-details-xbox-games-showcase-2024/

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 22

June 15, 2024June 25, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 The miraculous rescue of hostages – In case you missed the news, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully rescued four Israeli hostages, fought with the Palestinian terrorists and brought the hostages home safely. This not some high-risk operation turned lucky. This operation was a blessing from the Lord God whose covenant with the Jewish people has always been true and standing to this day. All the praise, honor, thanks and glory to Him! Ignore the lies of the Islamo-Leftist mainstream news media and focus on the truth by watching the selected videos below…

#2 European Union (EU) elections resulted in the fall of the Satanic Left – Very recently, a series of elections took place in Europe which determined the composition of the European Union (EU) parliament. European voters who have grown sick and tired of the policies of the Satanic Left (examples: mass migration, taking care of illegal aliens at taxpayers’ expense, fascist climate change policies, government corruption) made their choices by electing more conservative and more nationalistic/patriotic candidates. In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saw her party gain power while the President of France had no choice but to dissolve French parliament (National Assembly) and call for a snap election. Watch and learn more from the videos below…

#3 Documentary of the Houston Rockets’ amazing 1995 NBA championship defense – Never underestimate the heart of a sports champion. That is the moral lesson behind the unbelievable successful NBA championship defense the Houston Rockets achieved in 1995. For the newcomers reading this, the Rockets won the title in 1994 but ended up ranking only 6^th place on the Western Conference the following season. This meant that the Rockets had no home court advantage through the NBA Playoffs of 1995. How they defied expectations and overcame tough obstacles to win a 2^nd straight NBA championship must be seen in the selected NBA documentary video. Enjoy!

#4 A very deep look back at Lost Odyssey – Lost Odyssey is not just a very notable video game released only on Xbox 360 many years ago. It was arguably the most defining, traditional Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) that can be best described as a Final Fantasy game without the name. To be clear, Lost Odyssey involved the combined talents of Japanese greats Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy creator), Takehiko Inoue (famous manga artist) and Nobuo Uematsu (musician always know for Final Fantasy), and it was an ambitious JRPG that also happened to be an Xbox-exclusive game. If you wish to know more about Lost Odyssey, what it has in common with Final Fantasy games and why it remains a very notable game, watch the documentary below…

#5 PatmanQC’s Ring King retrospective – Retro gaming YouTuber PatmanQC published recently his retrospective video about the 1980s game Ring King (also titled as King of Boxer) which is fun and informative to watch.

#6 You, Me and the Movies’ The Blob (1958) reaction – Recently the 1958 version of The Blob was featured by You, Me and the Movies in a movie reaction video which is entertaining to watch.

#7 RK Outpost examines woke Star Wars – It is no secret that under the umbrella of the woke Disney company and the Lucasfilm leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, the established entertainment franchises of Star Wars and Indiana Jones got ruined. Sad to say, Star Wars continues to be made with extreme wokeness and rabid feminism, reaching the point of completely ruining the sci-fi franchise as we know it. Watch and learn from RK Outpost’s videos below…

#8 The evil of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas – It cannot be denied that Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is pure evil. So pure is their evil, they want nothing less than committing complete genocide against Israel and its people. To his day, pro-Palestine zealots cannot even tell the difference between good and evil, and right and wrong. For the Palestinians and its brainwashed supporters (all supported secretly by terrorist state Iran), terrorism, violence and murder are the only ways to achieve what they want. Watch and learn from the videos below…

#9 2024 Xbox Games Showcase videos – Following the lackluster Sony State of Play and Summer Game Fest, Team Xbox and its partners came out blazing with the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase recently. In my view, it was a big improvement over last year’s showcase (which itself was quite good) and there were highlights that should not be ignored. Posted below are selected videos for your viewing pleasure.

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First-ever gameplay of Perfect Dark reboot revealed at 2024 Xbox Games Showcase

June 12, 2024June 11, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers!

Wow! That was a powerful presentation of 1st party video games at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase (also referred to as Xbox Showcase) that happened in America very recently. Not only was it better and more exciting than the Xbox showcase of 2023, it made this year’s State of Play and Summer Game Fest look even more lackluster and more unsatisfying. Already there are PlayStation 5 (PS5) fans who begged Sony to do better with their showcase of games because this year’s Xbox showcase – which is also the first of the new age of Microsoft-owned Activision-Blizzard-King – energetic and exciting.

For this post, I will be focusing on one of highlights of the Xbox showcase…the first-ever reveal of gameplay and features of the Perfect Dark reboot (for my previous posts, click here and here). For starters, watch the gameplay showcase video below…

Wow! The Perfect Dark presentation exceeded my expectations on gameplay and it looks like The Initiative (Xbox game studio) and Crystal Dynamics (the studio responsible for many Tomb Raider games over the past several years) really got their creative forces combined to make something unique.

Like the previous games that preceded it, the new Perfect Dark utilizes a first-person viewpoint for immersive gameplay and it has a new version of Joanna Dark introduced featuring the likeness of model Elissa Bibaud. Strangely enough, the new agent Dark does not look too attractive. Perhaps more new images of her will be unveiled someday.

*The new Joanna Dark featuring the likeness of model Elissa Bibaud.*

*Elissa Bibaud’s picture from her Instagram.*

The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics must have brainstormed a lot and worked long to modernize the gameplay for this new game (officially the 4^th Perfect Dark game for consoles played at home). What was shown during the video presentation were moments when Joanna Dark used gadgets to do thermal scanning, extract data wirelessly, generate voice-prints and create deepfake audio. Not only that, Joanna is capable of climbing wall pipes, sliding on surfaces and doing wall-running.

Without spoiling the concept of the video too much, I can say that Joanna Dark is already an agent who goes to Garden City in Cairo to find the wanted criminal Daniel Carrington and discover what he has been scheming. With all the details made available by the video and the Xbox Wire piece, Perfect Dark is really a first-person adventure that allows players to figure out what to achieve as they work their way through in missions. This is not just an action-packed first-person shooter.

Perfect Dark is a first-person adventure game laced with sci-fi and espionage elements. Players will be offered opportunities to overcome obstacles in creative ways such as using gadgets to infiltrate places.

Considering what was shown, I can only hope that the game developers will be able to create wide and vertical maps that will allow players to explore a lot more as they take on missions. By today’s standards, linear level designs just won’t cut it anymore. I know for a fact that making an open-world environment will take too much time and effort to complete Perfect Dark, so having wide and vertical maps will be good enough to offer players exploration opportunities.

Strangely enough, the video presentation does not specify which Xbox consoles Perfect Dark will be released for. What was confirmed is that the upcoming game will launch on day one on the Game Pass service which means it will eventually be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC. That being said, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S owners who are subscribing to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) and Windows PC gamers subscribed already to PC Game Pass will be able to play the new Perfect Dark on launch day someday. I doubt a version of the game will be released for the aging Xbox One consoles.

*In this game, you can accomplish your mission objectives by using stealth or by engaging with the enemies directly with guns and other high-tech weapons.*

While there is no release date yet for the Perfect Dark reboot, you can learn more about the game by clicking https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/06/09/perfect-dark-details-interview-xbox-games-showcase-2024/

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What I’d like to see next from Ninja Theory

June 10, 2024June 3, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers! As I posted before, I enjoyed playing Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II on my Xbox Series X and eventually I managed finish it. It was indeed a short game (less than ten hours was my play time) and to my surprise, the levels were really linear (which made exploration very limited) and the puzzle-oriented challenges were less challenging compared to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.

What really impressed the most about Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II were the visuals which had high levels of photo-realism, really detailed facial expressions and astounding cinematic look. Developer Ninja Theory proved itself to be great in using Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) technology and fusing their artistry and all motion-captured performances onto their work.

*Apart from solid game designers, Ninja Theory has great digital artists, technicians and very talented performers.*

*It would be a big shame for Microsoft to close down Ninja Theory. Such a move will destroy the credibility of Xbox.*

While I enjoyed Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II and I can say it was worth the long wait, I don’t find the game replay-worthy at all. I don’t feel like wanting to repeat an entire playthrough with it right now. Perhaps in the next six months, I just might consider playing it all over again.

That being said, I really want Ninja Theory to prosper and keep on making more great games that will keep gamers entertained. I think it is also time for the Xbox studio to pause from the Senua franchise of games and start making something new that is also enjoyable to play.

What I’d like to see Ninja Theory make under the Xbox banner is a new action-adventure game that is less cinematic but more focused on large environments, platforming, deep exploration and having a new approach to action.

To understand what I’m saying, check out Ninja Theory’s past works on Heavenly Sword and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Watch the videos below…

Of course, there are other genres that Ninja Theory could daringly work on such as role-playing games (RPGs) much in the style of BioWare’s works specifically like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Star Wars KOTOR) and Jade Empire. They can also add their cinematic approach when making RPGs.

When it comes to zombie-oriented video games, the team behind the Senua games could make a Dead Rising-like game featuring open-world environments, varied missions and objectives, and emphasis on shooting and explosions with regards to action.

Another genre that I think Ninja Theory can challenge themselves with is turn-based tactics gaming. I believe that the Xbox first-party lineup of games is sorely lacking in this type of game. While XCOM already cornered the sci-fi realm of turn-based tactics, perhaps Ninja Theory could do a fantasy oriented game that plays well and carry the team’s cinematic touch.

The way things are right now, it remains to be seen what Ninja Theory could make next under Team Xbox and Microsoft. There is that thing called Project: Mara but there are no details as to what kind of game will turn out from that. I really want Ninja Theory to keep on making more fun-oriented games which would also feature their artistic approach that would really stand out.

Whether you like it or not, the future looks uncertain for Ninja Theory when it comes to what kind of games they will make next, and what creative direction they will take under the banners of Xbox and Microsoft.

Here is hoping Microsoft would not commit the error of closing down the team behind Senua games. I am watching your moves, Team Xbox and Microsoft.

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Commandos: Origins announced for Xbox consoles, Windows PC and Game Pass

May 13, 2024April 30, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers! During the recent IGN x ID@Xbox Digital Showcase, several new games were shown and the one that stood out the most for me was Commandos: Origins which will be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and Game Pass sometime in the near future.

To get yourselves oriented, watch this teaser trailer of Commandos: Origins.

While no firm release date has been announced, there are lots of details about the real-time tactical stealth game developed by Claymore Game Studios under publisher Kalpyso Media. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official game details sourced from the Xbox online store page. Some parts in boldface…

ALARM! You have been selected for a mission which will shape the fate of the entire world. Witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in Commandos: Origins. The long-awaited sequel to the Commandos series brings you right back to the foundation of the real-time tactics genre. And to the days where Jack O’Hara, the Green Beret, and his five companions met to form the infamous unit sent to complete missions which no others would dare to accept.

In the hushed shadows of history’s most pivotal moments, where heroes are born and legends are forged, a new chapter awaits. Whether it is a daring raid, a covert sabotage, or a courageous rescue mission – the Green Beret, the Sapper, the Sniper, the Driver, the Marine and the Spy will need to combine their skills to meet the most challenging tasks. Your mission can only be achieved through well-thought planning and the smart combination of stealth and destruction that come with the unique skillsets of this elite troop.

*A huge and detailed environment that players will have to infiltrate and beat the bad guys.*

From the icy plains of the Arctic to the vast deserts of Africa, from the western coastlines of Europe to the Eastern front, it’s up to you to lead your commandos to success in high-risk missions. Guide them in their fight against the growing Nazi occupation which is menacing the free world.

• Challenging Real Time Tactical Stealth Gameplay: Make the best use of your Commandos’ unique abilities, infiltrate enemy facilities and hit them where it hurts most before disappearing into the shadows.

• An extraordinary team: Featuring 6 infamous characters, each with their own storied history, banding together to form an extraordinary fighting force – the Commandos: Take control over Jack O’Hara “the Green Beret”, Thomas “the Sapper” Hancock, Francis T. “the Sniper” Woolridge, Samuel “the Driver” Brooklyn, James “the Marine” Blackwood, and Rene “the Spy” Duchamp and lead them to success.

• Many paths to victory: The detailed, varied and interactive environments offer multiple approaches to reach your goal. Sneak, climb, drive in various vehicles, or hide and creep your way to mission success!

• On your mark: A modern user experience with precise and intuitive controls enables you to control the commandos with expert precision. Coordinate complex actions simultaneously to overcome heavily fortified targets.

Having seen the trailer of Commandos: Origins, I had these XCOM vibes. Then the game showed that action sequences can be executed with a good amount of detail supposedly to ensure satisfaction for players who love strategy backed with militaristic stuff. While the game design emphasizes 3D space, turn-based gameplay and strategy, Commandos: Origins still managed to remind me of past military games such as Operation Wolf, Cabal, Rush’n Attack and original Metal Gear.

Watch out for the release of Commandos: Origins on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and Game Pass in the near future. For more information, click https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/commandos-origins/9nnrcr6mbndr

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Have you been playing Grandia HD Collection on Xbox?

April 15, 2024April 12, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers who love Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs)! In case you missed the news, Grandia HD Collection is now available for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and the aging Xbox One console and you can order the digital copy by clicking here.

For the newcomers reading this, Grandia HD Collection on Xbox consoles was officially released on March 26, 2024. It is a collection of two very solid role-playing games (RPGs) from the previous console generations, namely Grandia (originally released on Sega Saturn in Japan in 1997) and Grandia II (originally released on Sega Dreamcast in Japan in 2000). Although the said HD collection has been available for weeks, it was only very recently that an official Xbox trailer of it was published on the ID@Xbox YouTube channel and you can watch it right below…

Personally, I find it very strange why the trailer was released on the ID@Xbox YouTube channel instead of the official Xbox YouTube channel (as of this writing). Perhaps someone at Team Xbox confused the Grandia RPGs to be productions by small and independent studios which is wrong because both games were developed by Game Arts (the same team responsible for the Lunar RPGs and also a publisher of games). Right now, it seems that internal woke problems over at Team Xbox (for reference, click here, here and here) are preventing them from realizing the significance of Grandia and Grandia II.

Apart from the rather late Xbox trailer, a late Grandia HD Collection announcement was published on Xbox.com. To put things in perspective, posted below are selected excerpt from the Xbox announcement written by Gung Ho Online Community Coordinator Allyson Nicholas. Some parts in boldface…

I am excited to announce that the remaster of the classic role-playing series, Grandia HD Collection, has launched on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S! Whether you are returning to these iconic games or entering these worlds for the first time, the series’ dynamic attack system, rewarding magic and skill progression, and immersive storylines offer dozens of hours of heroic adventures.

Getting You up to Speed on All Things Grandia – The Grandia HD Collection brings two role-playing games that have defined the genre for decades to come to contemporary audiences.

*Screenshot from **Grandia.** The game has fully polygonal environments and the characters and creatures are presented as detailed 2D sprites.*

Grandia follows Justin, a young adventurer who fatefully inherits a magic stone and thus sets out to uncover the mysteries of a lost civilization. In his search, he attracts all types of attention. Some good, in that he meets other adventurers who aid him along on his quest. However, some are bad, like the Garlyle Forces who work to keep him from unraveling the truth of the past.

Meet the Crew

Justin – Driven by his curious and fearless nature, Justin often dives headfirst into situations without thinking. He possesses the mysterious Spirit Stone—an artifact passed down through his family—which plays a pivotal role in his adventures.

Sue – Justin’s childhood friend from the town of Parm. She often joins him on his misadventures, bringing to them her courageous optimism and unexpected maturity that balances out Justin’s impulsiveness. She is almost always accompanied by her flying ball of fluff Puffy, who is as mysterious as he is adorable!

Feena – The most well-traveled of the bunch, Feena has an independent spirit and impressive skillset that garners the respect of those around her, especially Justin. As the journey unfolds, players delve deeper into her multifaceted character and mysterious past.

*Screenshot of **Grandia II** showing Ryudo and his companions fighting a large monster. The characters and monsters are polygonal.*

Grandia II acquaints us with Ryudo, a Geohound who does odd jobs to get money alongside his loyal eagle companion, Skye. One fateful day, he receives a request from the Church of Granas to serve as a bodyguard to one Elena, Songstress of Granas. Together, they bring out pieces of each other that neither of them knew existed amidst their journey to rid the world of Evil in the form of Valmar, God of Darkness.

Meet The Crew

Ryudo – A mercenary with a tough exterior and noble heart. He takes on various jobs for money—despite the moral implications—and is accompanied by his trusted bird companion, Skye.

Elena – The epitome of innocence and purity, Elena’s world is opened wide when she begins to journey alongside Ryudo.

Millenia – Uninhibited, playful, and mischievous, Millenia is a force to be reckoned with. Her origins and the nature of her existence cause her relationship with the party to take many interesting and unexpected turns.

To read the rest of the Xbox.com announcement, click https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/10/time-for-an-adventure-grandia-hd-collection-remastered-for-xbox-one-and-xbox-series-xs-out-now/

*Two fun Japanese RPGs now available for Xbox gamers to enjoy in a single collection.*

For the Xbox fans who want to have a good amount of fun, there is a lot to be excited for this month and next month as Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (April 23) and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP) weeks apart. The good news is that Grandia HD Collection on Xbox is already available for anyone willing to purchase it. The Grandia RPGs are undeniably retro gaming highlights that RPG fans should play, especially now that both games have been remastered and enhanced with high-definition in mind.

To buy a copy of Grandia HD Collection, Xbox fans and gamers should click https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/grandia-hd-collection/9n4nlqhx6j18

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Grandia HD Collection all set for release on Xbox on March 26, 2024

March 14, 2024March 13, 2024carlocarrasco

Finally, an old wish of mine came true as GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc. (GOEA) officially announced that the Grandia HD Collection – which contains the classic Japanese role-playing game Grandia and its sequel Grandia II – will be released on Xbox consoles on March 26, 2024. For the newcomers reading this, the said collection of the two Grandia RPGs was previously released for the Nintendo Switch and on PC in 2019. Grandia HD Collection has been listed on the Xbox store.

This surprise development is definitely much more exciting and better than Team Xbox’s releasing four Xbox-original games on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles. For your excitement and enlightenment, watch the latest Grandia HD Collection announcement and trailer below…

To understand what the collection contains, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement by GOEA. Some parts in boldface…

The GRANDIA HD Collection features two genre-defining role-playing games: GRANDIA and GRANDIA II. These games send players on epic adventures with protagonists Justin and Ryudo, respectively, to explore the worlds of GRANDIA and protect them from the forces of evil.

Two Nostalgic Stories: Fans can follow both iconic journeys in the world of GRANDIA with various upgrades once more. Discover what lies beyond the End of the World with the young adventurer Justin in GRANDIA and, eons later, protect the world from eternal darkness with mercenary Ryudo in GRANDIA II.

Modernized Visuals: This version of GRANDIA and GRANDIA II includes enhanced UI, sprites, and texture art that brings the iconic look of the retro classics to contemporary standards, including widescreen support and visually enhanced original cinematics.

*This is what a battle looks like in Grandia II which had fully polygonal graphics.*

Classic Old-School Combat: The GRANDIA series features classic RPG combat, with physical attacks and elemental spells in a battle system that combines real-time and turn-based mechanics. The addition of Hard Mode gives players a memorable challenge as they explore the world of GRANDIA II.

Language Support: The GRANDIA HD Collection includes Japanese and English audio options, as well as language support for English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified and traditional).

I am really delighted that Grandia HD Collection is coming to Xbox (note: made for the Xbox One console which is fully compatible with Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles) as I played and enjoyed the original Grandia game on PlayStation way back in 1999.

I do remember Grandia having a very imaginative fantasy world with a story cleverly structured to take players from one location to another to visit new places, meet new characters or tribes of people, and engage in quests. Playing that game was a whole lot of fun because developer Game Arts (the same team behind the Lunar RPGs) crafted a battle system that is highly playable and addicting. As I played Grandia, I saw the playable characters really develop not just with their personalities but also their battle and magic abilities.

Not only that, the music written by Noriyuki Iwadare was great to listen as I played. I also love the artistic approach applied on Grandia which had 2D sprites for the characters and monsters, nicely textured 3D polygonal environments, and very imaginative artworks (including those in animated cutscenes).

*Grandia had characters and monsters in 2D sprite forms, as well as detailed textures on the 3D polygonal environment.*

Of course, the many quests gradually built-up the tension of the main plot which turned out to be a grand event. Game Arts knew how to execute handsome pay-offs in relation to the build-up that preceded them. That being said, Grandia’s conclusion was really memorable to see.

If there is anything I hope to see within the Grandia HD Collection, it would be improvements on the English translation and the voice acting of the characters because the PlayStation version of Grandia that I played was lackluster with those mentioned elements. Clearly Sony Computer Entertainment (the publisher of Grandia on PlayStation) did not aim high with quality for the game’s American release.

As for Grandia II, I never got to play it as I never had a Sega Dreamcast nor a PlayStation 2 (PS2) console. I do remember some Dreamcast gamers expressing fondness and high enjoyment of the game and there were even a few who enjoyed it more than its predecessor. That being said, Grandia II’s inclusion in the Grandia HD Collection is an added incentive for me to purchase the collection for my Xbox Series X.

A mini-game in Grandia II. The sequel went all-in with 3D polygons which made it a big showcase of art and graphics on the Sega Dreamcast. The PlayStation 2 version of this game reportedly had inferior graphics.

Watch out for Grandia HD Collection on Xbox consoles on March 26, 2024. For more information, click https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/grandia-hd-collection/9n4nlqhx6j18

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Team Xbox should focus more on their fans and make more Xbox-exclusive games with the long-term in mind

March 13, 2024March 5, 2024carlocarrasco

In recent times, Team Xbox and their studios officially confirmed that the Xbox-original (read: previously Xbox-exclusive) games Pentiment, Hi-Fi RUSH, Grounded and Sea of Thieves are heading to consoles of Sony and Nintendo. This is the result of what was discussed during the podcast (note: “the four games”) that had top Xbox officials updating people about their business plan and current direction. In case you missed that, watch the podcast right below…

To make things clear for the newcomers reading this, Team Xbox itself has already been publishing games on non-Xbox platforms for several years now. I’m talking about established titles like Minecraft and, in very recent times, the many games of Bethesda. By adding the newly acquired Activision-Blizzard into the Xbox family of companies, you can see Team Xbox’s publishing side has grown even bigger and the business impact should be felt over the next few years.

That being said, I should state that Phil Spencer and his Xbox team leaders should NOT neglect Xbox fans even as the business is moving towards multi-platform publishing and the “console-less” future in the 2030s.

In relation to what Spencer said during the podcast, the single-player games his team heavily invested in such as Starfield, Forza Motorsport (2023), Forza Horizon 5, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are still exclusive on Xbox consoles plus Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (the popular subscription service itself will not be made available on non-Xbox platforms anytime soon).

There are also more Xbox-exclusive titles that have yet to be released such as Towerborne, South of Midnight, Clockwork Revolution, The Outer Worlds 2, the Fable reboot plus the very delayed ones such as Perfect Dark and Everwild.

While it is true that those are a lot of Xbox-exclusive games that fans and other gamers (who are seeking fun and unique games to play that are NOT available on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles) can look forward to over the next few years, I still say that Team Xbox should invest more to make even more exclusive games and become more aggressive.

In the previous Xbox console generations, there were these exclusive games that had “Only on Xbox” placed on the front covers of their respective boxes. Check out the games below…

*Way back in 2002, this was the exclusive adventure and platform game to enjoy on the original Xbox console! It was flawed but still had fun.*

*If you are a long-time Xbox fan, were you able to buy this for your Xbox 360 console?*

*This exclusive game on Xbox 360 is a classic shooter to enjoy!*

And, yes, there was a time when Team Xbox invested a lot to make exclusive sports video games under their Xbox Sports Network (XSN) franchise. Even the Top Spin game series actually started on the original Xbox console under the XSN label.

*During the weeks leading to the launch of the original Xbox console in late 2001, I played NFL Fever 2002 on an Xbox kiosk. This was Microsoft’s exclusive NFL video game.*

*An exclusive racing game on the original Xbox that is rarely talked about. This game received many positive reviews at the time of its release.*

*The exclusive NBA basketball of Team Xbox from 2002.*

It is absolutely true that Top Spin started as an Xbox-exclusive tennis video game made to entertain gamers on the console while also serving as a suitable competitor against Sega’s Virtua Tennis and Nintendo’s Mario Tennis.

Indeed, “Only on Xbox” in the old days had a very strong meaning – something fun and unique (if not special) was prepared for gamers and the only platform to play was on the Xbox console!

Going to the present leadership of Team Xbox, they seriously need to refocus on the exclusive games and confirm their dedication to all Xbox fans as well as the gamers seeking something fun and special to play on Xbox consoles or on Windows PC. A lot of people spent so much money to buy an Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S or a new PC for their entertainment needs and having more exclusive games will add even more value into the ecosystem of Microsoft.

I really wish to see Phil Spencer and his team move aggressively to produce even more Xbox-exclusive games not just for this current console generation but also for the next generation and even further. Perhaps Team Xbox should explore making exclusive sports video games (note: challenging 2K and Visual Concepts’ dominance on NBA video games could do good for the gamers and the industry) or make games on genres they have been ignoring.

Whether Team Xbox utilizes its own game studios or make deals with independent studios through their Xbox Game Studios Publishing, making more exclusive games is crucial and when it is well executed, Xbox fans and other gamers will benefit. Seriously, the shift to releasing Xbox-original games to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles should not be the main goal because it clearly does NOT justify betraying Xbox fans around the world.

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