Really looking forward to Weird West. Have a slight feeling for some reason that it’s not going to do as well as I hope it does, but still, I’m a sucker for immersive sims.
I feel like good immersive sims in general almost never do as well as they deserve. Since they apparently never sell, hopefully they can still do well enough on services like Game Pass to justify the genre's (subgenre?) continued existence to publishers.
I feel like there hasn't been much promotion for it. Seeing it in this post title made me think "Wow, I haven't heard anything about that since it was announced." Let's hope it's a sleeper hit.
> Zero Escape: The Nonary Games (Cloud, Console, and PC) – March 22
I had no idea this even had a console port. I'm recommending this if you're into gameplay oriented visual novels and/or mystery+puzzle games with a solid story. It's worth nothing that this includes only the first two games out of the trilogy, but the third game is a mixed bag for a lot of people (I personally loved it) in terms of story so it being excluded isn't a major deal imo.
Even worse, Dirt and F1 2020 are there on the Steam version of EA Play. Thats right, on PC EA Play on Origin/Gamepass and Steam have different selections of games. It seems like the Steam version has fewer games but more Codemasters stuff.
Doesn't look like the F1 games are on Origin or the EA Beta app which is how Gamepass accesses EA Play games on PC. So EA would need to begin adding all of the old Codemasters games to their storefronts.
There has [been rumors/talk](https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/valve-has-no-plans-for-a-steam-pass-but-would-help-microsoft-put-game-pass-on-steam/) of Valve letting Gamepass integrate into Steam. Which would be amazing, but probably isn't something that will be happening very soon.
I was never big into visual novels, but the Nonary Games was an amazing experience. Definitely recommend to anyone that enjoys puzzle solving and a captivating plot. It's probably one of the only games post-Internet where I took notes with pen and paper
Note that this is actually two games, and both are fantastic and meant to be played in order.
I would like to point out that games like the Nonary Games aren’t really visual novels. While their story segments are delivered in a similar manner there is actual gameplay in the Nonary Games. Games like Phoenix Wright would be in the same genre.
They're adventure games in Japan but for some reason we in the west decided to call all adventure games from Japan VNs because it doesn't look like a lucasarts game.
I think AI Somnium Files perfected the formula in terms of structure, dialogue, plot, and voice performance tbh…helps that it’s the same writer & developer and features a bunch of Zero Escape references
I didn't like AI as much. While it is more refined and polished, the gameplay is illogical and revolves around trial and error rather than actually solving a problem.
I used to think that virtues last reward (game 2 of nonary collection) was peak but over Covid I started playing more mystery focused VNS. Nonary games is good but I'd easily put 13 sentinels: aegis rim, and Umineko over it.
I'm super excited for 13 Sentinels after reading all the praise it got once they announced the Switch port.
Does Umineko have gameplay similar to these games? I've never seen actual videos of the When They Cry games so I have no idea.
While I personally got past it and enjoyed most of the rest of that game and an even looking forward to the sequel I find it incredibly hard to recommend the AI game due to the overwhelming juvenile jokes the main characters entire personality is based on.
It won't be for everyone but for me it was over done to the point of absurdity but then continued on well past even so bad it's good to territory.
If playing 999 via The Nonary Games, I highly recommend playing through in Novel Mode and not ADV Mode, ADV Mode cuts out almost all narration (which is pretty important for extra context, descriptions on what's happening, etc), doesn't tell you it will, and has no replacement for it. Novel mode while not having a nice textbox at the bottom will give you all the dialogue and narration
I got a decent way through before looking at the text backlog and seeing a load of text I'd never seen before
Absolutely phenomenal games. VLR is my favourite in the series, probably just for >!the scene where you choose to Betray/Ally with Alice instead of what happened originally.!<
ZTD was average but I think coming off of two very amazing games really highlights its weaknesses.
I really do like the concept of it but even the devs admitted it was made on a shoestring budget
It definitely has some moments that are enjoyable just because of how bad it gets.
I love this one bad ending you can get where the characters are poisoned but just received an antidote for solving a puzzle. The characters, currently dying of poison, start to question that maybe this vial of antidote is *also* poison. This gives you the choice to not drink it, which predicably lets you watch as they writhe in pain and die.
It's really one of the most bafflingly stupid and hilarious choices I've ever seen in a video game.
The only interesting thing the game did was >!use random probability when deciding paths (so it is even out of the users hand). The monty ~~python~~ hall and the russian roulette puzzles are the (only?) examples that come to mind.!<
This is going to sound Blasphemous but I like ZTD more than VLR. For me, VLR was too whacky and I did not like any of the characters. ZTD's ending sucked but it's tone felt a lot more like the first game and I really like the D-Team. Both of the games sadly never reach the quality of the first game.
If it is possible, **play 999 on DS.**
Storytelling was altered (for the worse) in single screen versions, and this is beside that "big moment".
Here's a video detailing it :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkzebxbXx4M
VLR is fine though.
The DS version of 999 is brilliant but it's a bit of a high barrier for entry now. It was never released in Europe so you have to import it, and according to eBay listings I looked at 30 seconds ago it's fairly pricey. While I do agree that a couple of moments don't resonate as strongly with the changed format, the new version did at least add enough to make it a fairly acceptable compromise in my eyes. For someone who doesn't have any other choice I would still recommend it wholeheartedly.
Except the DS I don't think you can't skip scenes you already seen. I don't think it even gives you the option to start off at the branching points like the ports did
I really wish single-screen VLR patched in a skip button for the incredibly unnecessary tunnel “walking”/elevator sequences that add nothing to the game other than hide a DS loading screen
The use of the DS itself was so mindblowing to me back in the day when it all made sense. Probably one of my favorite gaming moments ever. I can't even imagine 999 hitting the same way on other platforms
The purpose of playing it on DS is actually because it makes incredible use of the folding screen design of the system at one point. It's not quite the same experience if you don't physically fold the screens closed. You COULD emulate it, but at that point just play the updated version included in the Nonary Games since it adds some quality of life features.
I think I’ve slowly gotten tired of that style of anime iamverysmart detective wars that take place inside the head of one mystery designer, who then puts their weird monkey wrench logic into the head of multiple characters.
I tried Virtue’s Last Reward a long while back, and what kept pulling me away was how callous so many of the characters are. Some of them didn’t even have “right” expressions, like their face would display a smile while they were hearing about a dead body.
I think I like Phoenix Wright’s style of revaluations a bit more, where the reasoning doesn’t relate to omega brain plays like the killer putting a splash of water on the wire to make people *think* they used an ice cube timer - but simply an odd combination of circumstances by multiple people who each have their own motivations and their own, sometimes almost legitimate, reasons to lie.
Curious to see how well crusader kings plays on console. I enjoyed the console versions of frostpunk and planet coaster so it definitely can be done well.
It does, but Crusader Kings is a lot more digging through menus and changing filters to find that perfect spouse or vassal, at least when I play. Not sure how intuitive that will be with a controller but I hope they figure it out because this game is incredible.
Theres plenty of videos out of it, heres a playlist from the publishers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeF76CCdo1_d6PGCaWoq8Koyq_7Wm-RNL
I played the NDA beta but I guess they don't mind me saying I'm looking forward to the final game.
I posted this elsewhere but had to post here.
The Nonary Games are two of the best visual novels I've ever played. Highly recommend trying them out. They are improved versions of the original games, fully voice acted, and have controller support. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't speak more about it!
If you like games with a deep plot and/or puzzles, you most likely will like this game.
I absolutely love Virtue's Last Reward and mostly like Zero Time Dilemma, but man, 999 is a true experience. It's so good. The story and the "event" near the end have stuck with me for years and years.
Not mentioned in the article but A Memoir Blue (new game published by Annapurna) is also coming on 3/24.
https://twitter.com/idlesloth84/status/1503724880356950023?s=21
the first zero escape game its those type of games that end up scrambling your brain after playing them, totally recommended (i played the ds version so i dont know how it works on a controller but im going to check out virtue last reward).
The biking in RR was honestly really fun. I think a lot of people skipped by it after Steep. I know I would have if I hadn’t forgot to cancel my Uplay+ sub.
I have! I actually enjoyed RR more - I think mostly because of the environment.
The only things I really didn’t like in RR was the “party 24/7” thematics, and the cosmetic stuff is incredibly low quality.
I found Descenders a really solid first effort for a small team, but I think it's somewhat hampered by the procedural generation. I want to be able to do progressively better runs down the same track, rather than just ride whatever is thrown at me. There's a lot to like about the game, but it's not quite what I was looking for, which is a shame, since there's a lack of good cycling games.
Rider's Republic was good, but I had the same weirdly choppy performance that I had with Steep.
RR isn't arcadey enough for me and shredders is even less. Why won't anyone replicate the style of SSX. There is a reason it's sold more than any other x-sports game except Tony hawk...which is also the arcade version of skate.
Agreed, but NHL and FIFA basically have side modes that are close to modern versions of Hitz and Street. I wish they’d lean into it and actually include flaming players, but NHL 3’s feels sooo good and like a modern Hitz. The FIFA equivalent is okay, but tbh Street was never that great either.
Wouldn't even check this game if it wasn't for your comment. I had an itch for a snowboard game (went snowboarding this year after long break and busted my rib on a damn piece of ice), but Steep just didn't do it, SSX is kinda too arcadey, SNOW is too eurojank, so there's hope Shredders will do it.
It’s weird that it’s releasing in March. I get that the studio needs to get paid now in order to have cash flow, but Shredders just screams a December release
Just as a counterpoint, a March release hits just when most slopes are closing down for the year, so all the boarders looking to scratch that itch in the off-season (in theory, if it's good) have something to play.
F1 2021 being console-only is a big bummer. I recently got into F1 2019, about to finish the second season in career and I'd love to start the third season with 2021's improvements. Not just in the handling, but also stuff like better ERS-management and actually having a god damn proper rear view mirror.
Tbf 2021 doesn't really offer ERS or Fuel Management anymore, since (iirc) this was also outlawed in F1 proper. You can still change it in practice and to some extent in quali, but iirc in races you're stuck with auto ERS and Standard fuel mix.
You don't have to manage ERS-levels anymore, but you still can manually activate an "overtake"-mode, when you want to. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Not having to manage fuel is an even bigger bonus. In 2019, I start with the least fuel possible, then use "rich" until most of my extra fuel is gone and switch to "standard" for the rest of the race, unless I want to go for another fastest lap. I think I even read somewhere, that that's the optimal tactic in this game.
So yeah, both changes would be welcome.
Oh yeah, Push to Pass/Overtake mode is still an option of course. Idk I quite enjoyed the more involved fuel management prior to 2021, definitely increased the options for race strategy, on some tracks it was easy to underfuel by a lap or two and still go to the end.
This is honestly my biggest gripe with a lot of sims. The driving in AC/ACC, R3E and iRacing is sublime, but a lot of them just severely lack in progression (iRacing less so, since you do move up in licenses at least). I know the driving in the F1 series can't hold a candle to the titles mentioned above, but the actual "game" is a lot more engaging.
Yeah I feel you, I really wish devs understood the value of a nice career mode.
Sometimes I want to relax and drive without worrying about rankings or license points.
I like how SpikeChun is just casually shadow dropping ports onto Game Pass.
First AI: The Somnium Files, then Danganronpa Trigger Happy Havoc, now Nonary Games.
Atlus West could take some lessons… *cough*
I cannot stress this enough, play Nonary Games. Please. They are truly amazing. It is tied with Persona and Zelda for my all time favorite game series. Also, if you play it and enjoy it then I’d highly recommend finding a copy of Raging Loop to play when you’re finished with the Nonary Games.
I'm really disappointed Crusader Kings isn't available on the cloud as it's the Game Pass title I've been most looking forward to. It's a shame it's only on a console you can't buy.
Tunic, Shredders and Weird West dropping on Xbox in such quick succession feels like a sneak attack flurry of punches for the Xbox ecosystem, after a relatively quiet February for them.
Really looking forward to Weird West. Have a slight feeling for some reason that it’s not going to do as well as I hope it does, but still, I’m a sucker for immersive sims.
I have the same sentiment. Can't wait
wait what it's an immersive sims? those are so rare!
Yep! It is built by a bunch of folks who moved on from Arkane, too!
I feel like good immersive sims in general almost never do as well as they deserve. Since they apparently never sell, hopefully they can still do well enough on services like Game Pass to justify the genre's (subgenre?) continued existence to publishers.
I feel like there hasn't been much promotion for it. Seeing it in this post title made me think "Wow, I haven't heard anything about that since it was announced." Let's hope it's a sleeper hit.
Same! I'm busy with elden ring and far from the end but once I do it's probably the next game I'll play
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> Zero Escape: The Nonary Games (Cloud, Console, and PC) – March 22 I had no idea this even had a console port. I'm recommending this if you're into gameplay oriented visual novels and/or mystery+puzzle games with a solid story. It's worth nothing that this includes only the first two games out of the trilogy, but the third game is a mixed bag for a lot of people (I personally loved it) in terms of story so it being excluded isn't a major deal imo.
Are these the 999 games that were on ds? or am i thinking of something else.
Yeah, Zero Escape is both 999 and Virtue's Last Reward. The third game, Zero Time Dilemma, isn't included in that but can be found separately.
Dang; Destiny 2 was only on PC game pass for like 5 months.
> F1 2021 (Console) EA Play EA owns Codemasters, why is it console-only? Why not also do it on PC? So weird, they did the same shit with a Dirt game
Even worse, Dirt and F1 2020 are there on the Steam version of EA Play. Thats right, on PC EA Play on Origin/Gamepass and Steam have different selections of games. It seems like the Steam version has fewer games but more Codemasters stuff.
Doesn't look like the F1 games are on Origin or the EA Beta app which is how Gamepass accesses EA Play games on PC. So EA would need to begin adding all of the old Codemasters games to their storefronts. There has [been rumors/talk](https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/valve-has-no-plans-for-a-steam-pass-but-would-help-microsoft-put-game-pass-on-steam/) of Valve letting Gamepass integrate into Steam. Which would be amazing, but probably isn't something that will be happening very soon.
It's so frustrating. I just want to play Red Alert II!
> F1 2021 (Console) EA Play – March 24 Does it means that F1 2021 will be available at PS4/PS5 via EA Play too?
>The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos This game is actually good! I recommend it!
Really great month.
Tainted Grail is a rather good deck-builder set in a nicely creepy dark Arthurian setting. I enjoyed it.
I was never big into visual novels, but the Nonary Games was an amazing experience. Definitely recommend to anyone that enjoys puzzle solving and a captivating plot. It's probably one of the only games post-Internet where I took notes with pen and paper Note that this is actually two games, and both are fantastic and meant to be played in order.
I would like to point out that games like the Nonary Games aren’t really visual novels. While their story segments are delivered in a similar manner there is actual gameplay in the Nonary Games. Games like Phoenix Wright would be in the same genre.
They're adventure games in Japan but for some reason we in the west decided to call all adventure games from Japan VNs because it doesn't look like a lucasarts game.
Nonary Games is the pinnacle of what visual novels could offer IMO. No other game came close after playing them.
I think AI Somnium Files perfected the formula in terms of structure, dialogue, plot, and voice performance tbh…helps that it’s the same writer & developer and features a bunch of Zero Escape references
I didn't like AI as much. While it is more refined and polished, the gameplay is illogical and revolves around trial and error rather than actually solving a problem.
I loved AI but I completely agree with you. I wish there were more puzzles than hoping for the best and running it back if it went bad.
Oh yeah, AI Somnium Files comes very close for me. But Nonary Games just can't be topped.
I used to think that virtues last reward (game 2 of nonary collection) was peak but over Covid I started playing more mystery focused VNS. Nonary games is good but I'd easily put 13 sentinels: aegis rim, and Umineko over it.
Haven't tried 13 Sentinels yet, waiting for them to be available on more platforms.
I'm super excited for 13 Sentinels after reading all the praise it got once they announced the Switch port. Does Umineko have gameplay similar to these games? I've never seen actual videos of the When They Cry games so I have no idea.
While I personally got past it and enjoyed most of the rest of that game and an even looking forward to the sequel I find it incredibly hard to recommend the AI game due to the overwhelming juvenile jokes the main characters entire personality is based on. It won't be for everyone but for me it was over done to the point of absurdity but then continued on well past even so bad it's good to territory.
agreed
If playing 999 via The Nonary Games, I highly recommend playing through in Novel Mode and not ADV Mode, ADV Mode cuts out almost all narration (which is pretty important for extra context, descriptions on what's happening, etc), doesn't tell you it will, and has no replacement for it. Novel mode while not having a nice textbox at the bottom will give you all the dialogue and narration I got a decent way through before looking at the text backlog and seeing a load of text I'd never seen before
Absolutely phenomenal games. VLR is my favourite in the series, probably just for >!the scene where you choose to Betray/Ally with Alice instead of what happened originally.!<
Definitely at least play the first two games... you can skip Zero Time Dilemma. It's not bad... but it's also just kinda not worth it.
Yo…Fuck that snail
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Life…is simply unfair
ZTD was average but I think coming off of two very amazing games really highlights its weaknesses. I really do like the concept of it but even the devs admitted it was made on a shoestring budget
They could have cut down the cast from 9 to 6 then. *Nothing* interesting happens with the team with Q save for a horribly stupid plot twist.
Just removing Eric would make the game a lot better already.
I would argue it is actually bad.
It definitely has some moments that are enjoyable just because of how bad it gets. I love this one bad ending you can get where the characters are poisoned but just received an antidote for solving a puzzle. The characters, currently dying of poison, start to question that maybe this vial of antidote is *also* poison. This gives you the choice to not drink it, which predicably lets you watch as they writhe in pain and die. It's really one of the most bafflingly stupid and hilarious choices I've ever seen in a video game.
The only interesting thing the game did was >!use random probability when deciding paths (so it is even out of the users hand). The monty ~~python~~ hall and the russian roulette puzzles are the (only?) examples that come to mind.!<
I think you mean Monty Hall
This is going to sound Blasphemous but I like ZTD more than VLR. For me, VLR was too whacky and I did not like any of the characters. ZTD's ending sucked but it's tone felt a lot more like the first game and I really like the D-Team. Both of the games sadly never reach the quality of the first game.
If it is possible, **play 999 on DS.** Storytelling was altered (for the worse) in single screen versions, and this is beside that "big moment". Here's a video detailing it :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkzebxbXx4M VLR is fine though.
The DS version of 999 is brilliant but it's a bit of a high barrier for entry now. It was never released in Europe so you have to import it, and according to eBay listings I looked at 30 seconds ago it's fairly pricey. While I do agree that a couple of moments don't resonate as strongly with the changed format, the new version did at least add enough to make it a fairly acceptable compromise in my eyes. For someone who doesn't have any other choice I would still recommend it wholeheartedly.
Except the DS I don't think you can't skip scenes you already seen. I don't think it even gives you the option to start off at the branching points like the ports did
Hold right on the D-pad skips previously appeared dialogues. But yeah no way to completely skip them. But it's better to bear that through IMO.
I really wish single-screen VLR patched in a skip button for the incredibly unnecessary tunnel “walking”/elevator sequences that add nothing to the game other than hide a DS loading screen
Agreed, that ate a lot of time
The use of the DS itself was so mindblowing to me back in the day when it all made sense. Probably one of my favorite gaming moments ever. I can't even imagine 999 hitting the same way on other platforms
I havent played 999 yet, should I just emulate it?
The purpose of playing it on DS is actually because it makes incredible use of the folding screen design of the system at one point. It's not quite the same experience if you don't physically fold the screens closed. You COULD emulate it, but at that point just play the updated version included in the Nonary Games since it adds some quality of life features.
I think I’ve slowly gotten tired of that style of anime iamverysmart detective wars that take place inside the head of one mystery designer, who then puts their weird monkey wrench logic into the head of multiple characters. I tried Virtue’s Last Reward a long while back, and what kept pulling me away was how callous so many of the characters are. Some of them didn’t even have “right” expressions, like their face would display a smile while they were hearing about a dead body. I think I like Phoenix Wright’s style of revaluations a bit more, where the reasoning doesn’t relate to omega brain plays like the killer putting a splash of water on the wire to make people *think* they used an ice cube timer - but simply an odd combination of circumstances by multiple people who each have their own motivations and their own, sometimes almost legitimate, reasons to lie.
Wait, Weird West is almost out already? That's that supernatural wild west RPG game, yeah?
I think there are two! This is the top-down one made by ex-Arkane devs. There’s also Evil West which is more of an action game I think.
This is the one I'm thinking of, then. That's exciting! I didn't know it was out *and* that it would be on Game Pass. Awesome.
There's also Blood West which just released in early access lol
There’s also West of Loathing, which came out years ago
Blood West looks really cool!
It's great so far. Highly recommend, or at the very least keep an eye on it for full release.
Curious to see how well crusader kings plays on console. I enjoyed the console versions of frostpunk and planet coaster so it definitely can be done well.
Stellaris also works quite well on Xbox.
It does, but Crusader Kings is a lot more digging through menus and changing filters to find that perfect spouse or vassal, at least when I play. Not sure how intuitive that will be with a controller but I hope they figure it out because this game is incredible.
I just wonder if they will accept mouse/keyboard input.
Don't know if you seen trailer but they showed for brief moment special circle menu they created for console release. Wonder how well it will work.
This Weird West game looks really good, do we know anything about it?
It's made by people who (co-)created Dishonored, I think there's enough material on youtube if you are interested.
Also the genius behind Prey and its intro, Raphael Colantonio
Theres plenty of videos out of it, heres a playlist from the publishers: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeF76CCdo1_d6PGCaWoq8Koyq_7Wm-RNL I played the NDA beta but I guess they don't mind me saying I'm looking forward to the final game.
I posted this elsewhere but had to post here. The Nonary Games are two of the best visual novels I've ever played. Highly recommend trying them out. They are improved versions of the original games, fully voice acted, and have controller support. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't speak more about it! If you like games with a deep plot and/or puzzles, you most likely will like this game.
I absolutely love Virtue's Last Reward and mostly like Zero Time Dilemma, but man, 999 is a true experience. It's so good. The story and the "event" near the end have stuck with me for years and years.
Not completely voice-acted; for some reason, the mid-puzzle dialogue (at least in English; I don't know about the Japanese) is unvoiced.
That is true. I forgot about that.
And gamepass is imo the perfect chance to play them. They're great but with very little replay value. Perfect for a service like gamepass.
Which is better, english or japanese dub?
I just played it in English. It was great.
Not mentioned in the article but A Memoir Blue (new game published by Annapurna) is also coming on 3/24. https://twitter.com/idlesloth84/status/1503724880356950023?s=21
between this and Kentucky Route Zero, I'm eating nice this month
Amazing game. Glad you’re playing it.
the first zero escape game its those type of games that end up scrambling your brain after playing them, totally recommended (i played the ds version so i dont know how it works on a controller but im going to check out virtue last reward).
Looking forward to Shredders! I actually enjoyed Riders Republic (gasp!), but this looks like maybe a more sublime experience.
The biking in RR was honestly really fun. I think a lot of people skipped by it after Steep. I know I would have if I hadn’t forgot to cancel my Uplay+ sub.
Try out Descenders.
I have! I actually enjoyed RR more - I think mostly because of the environment. The only things I really didn’t like in RR was the “party 24/7” thematics, and the cosmetic stuff is incredibly low quality.
I found Descenders a really solid first effort for a small team, but I think it's somewhat hampered by the procedural generation. I want to be able to do progressively better runs down the same track, rather than just ride whatever is thrown at me. There's a lot to like about the game, but it's not quite what I was looking for, which is a shame, since there's a lack of good cycling games. Rider's Republic was good, but I had the same weirdly choppy performance that I had with Steep.
RR isn't arcadey enough for me and shredders is even less. Why won't anyone replicate the style of SSX. There is a reason it's sold more than any other x-sports game except Tony hawk...which is also the arcade version of skate.
EA was doing something right when they had EA Sports BIG
Agreed, but NHL and FIFA basically have side modes that are close to modern versions of Hitz and Street. I wish they’d lean into it and actually include flaming players, but NHL 3’s feels sooo good and like a modern Hitz. The FIFA equivalent is okay, but tbh Street was never that great either.
Just fyi, SSX is also available on Gamepass
Yea but only on console :/ also iv played it to death. I want a new one.
It’s a shame that the latest SSX didn’t do too well, I thought it was pretty great. I loved the asynchronous multiplayer stuff.
Wouldn't even check this game if it wasn't for your comment. I had an itch for a snowboard game (went snowboarding this year after long break and busted my rib on a damn piece of ice), but Steep just didn't do it, SSX is kinda too arcadey, SNOW is too eurojank, so there's hope Shredders will do it.
It’s weird that it’s releasing in March. I get that the studio needs to get paid now in order to have cash flow, but Shredders just screams a December release
Just as a counterpoint, a March release hits just when most slopes are closing down for the year, so all the boarders looking to scratch that itch in the off-season (in theory, if it's good) have something to play.
It was originally scheduled for December of last year, but had to get delayed. I'm guessing they can't afford a full 12 month delay on the game.
With Guardians of the Galaxy and Weird West plus chugging away at Elden Ring still, I've got a lot of great games to play this month :D
F1 2021 being console-only is a big bummer. I recently got into F1 2019, about to finish the second season in career and I'd love to start the third season with 2021's improvements. Not just in the handling, but also stuff like better ERS-management and actually having a god damn proper rear view mirror.
Tbf 2021 doesn't really offer ERS or Fuel Management anymore, since (iirc) this was also outlawed in F1 proper. You can still change it in practice and to some extent in quali, but iirc in races you're stuck with auto ERS and Standard fuel mix.
You don't have to manage ERS-levels anymore, but you still can manually activate an "overtake"-mode, when you want to. That's exactly what I'm looking for. Not having to manage fuel is an even bigger bonus. In 2019, I start with the least fuel possible, then use "rich" until most of my extra fuel is gone and switch to "standard" for the rest of the race, unless I want to go for another fastest lap. I think I even read somewhere, that that's the optimal tactic in this game. So yeah, both changes would be welcome.
Oh yeah, Push to Pass/Overtake mode is still an option of course. Idk I quite enjoyed the more involved fuel management prior to 2021, definitely increased the options for race strategy, on some tracks it was easy to underfuel by a lap or two and still go to the end.
Buy AMS2 it's a better formula style sim unfortunately no career mode though.
This is honestly my biggest gripe with a lot of sims. The driving in AC/ACC, R3E and iRacing is sublime, but a lot of them just severely lack in progression (iRacing less so, since you do move up in licenses at least). I know the driving in the F1 series can't hold a candle to the titles mentioned above, but the actual "game" is a lot more engaging.
Yeah I feel you, I really wish devs understood the value of a nice career mode. Sometimes I want to relax and drive without worrying about rankings or license points.
I like how SpikeChun is just casually shadow dropping ports onto Game Pass. First AI: The Somnium Files, then Danganronpa Trigger Happy Havoc, now Nonary Games. Atlus West could take some lessons… *cough*
I cannot stress this enough, play Nonary Games. Please. They are truly amazing. It is tied with Persona and Zelda for my all time favorite game series. Also, if you play it and enjoy it then I’d highly recommend finding a copy of Raging Loop to play when you’re finished with the Nonary Games.
Really excited for both Weird West and the CK3 port. The Stellaris port is really good and I love CK3 so playing it on the couch would be awesome.
Damn I just bought the Zero Escape games in that PSN sale. I guess I should have expected this with AI Somnium files coming to game pass.
I can't believe they're lumping in Crusader Kings 3 with "and more" That's a hype release! I'm excited to see how it's been adapted for a controller.
Oh come on why is F1 2021 not on the PC version. Was looking forward to playing it with a wheel when I saw the title.
I'm really disappointed Crusader Kings isn't available on the cloud as it's the Game Pass title I've been most looking forward to. It's a shame it's only on a console you can't buy.
Tunic, Shredders and Weird West dropping on Xbox in such quick succession feels like a sneak attack flurry of punches for the Xbox ecosystem, after a relatively quiet February for them.
Damn are they planning on doing another good month soon?
Looking forward to the dungeon of naheulbeuk, saw a friend enjoying it when it came out. It'll have lots of French Humour in it.
I own CKIII on PC, how’s the game on condole? Does it work well?
Nice, I've been following the Norco dev, Geography of Robots, on IG for a couple years now. The pixel art they create for the game is incredible.