Xbox Game Pass

On Sunday. Because that makes sense.

(Yes, I know, it's E3 weekend, shush)

A few in there I've had on my PS4 store wishlist for a while, so that's nice.

OK, so Supermarket Shriek is a game where a man and a goat are trapped in a runaway shopping trolley and two players have to steer it left and right by screaming into two USB microphones. It’s as glorious as it sounds.

I was pitched that. We passed.

Silly Mart.

That sounds like it will be the best game ever for ten minutes and then it will never be played again.

Like Spiderman on the PS4 then…

Anyone else played… Into the Wild or whatever it's called on Gamepass? The space Zelda Majora's Mask/Kerbal Space Program/No Man's Sky crossover thing? It's….. a thing.

Sounds awesome.

I upgraded my Xbox Live and Game Pass subs to the new Ultimate sub (which works out cheaper, and adds together the time remaining on both subs to determine the length of the new sub so you can get quite a lot of time very cheaply).

It's given me access to the PC version of Game Pass too (which is called Xbox Game Pass for PC, just to make things extra confusing). Most of the games on there are the same as the Xbox version but there are a few additional ones. I tried out Slay the Spire and it's excellent.

I tried out Slay the Spire and it's excellent.

If only someone had tried to tell you all that beforehand. :P

Works surprisingly well on consoles too, I'm finding (to the cost of my free time) - it's out on PS4 and Switch too now. If there's ever an iPad version I'm doomed.

Slay the Spire is digital crack. My god. My respect for JDub has levelled up.

Slay the Spire is indeed excellent, though it raises the awkward issue that JDub's respect is now at a level Society-wide that we can no longer bar him from the second floor smoking lounge.

I would say, if you do have a sneaking low level obsession with this, Magic The Gathering: Arena (the new, not-shit client for MTG) might tickle your fancy if you enjoy the deck building mechanics.

Not Game Pass, but EDF 2017 is free on Games with Gold this month.

It is, completely unironically, one of the best couch co-op games out there. And on the One X the framerate is locked at 60fps, unlike on the 360 where it frequently dipped into single figures.

If anyone has never had the pleasure, go go go! And if you've played before, check out the new framerate.

God damn it. Now I need to buy an Xbox.

The backward compatibility feature of the Xbox One is one of the real marvels of this console generation - not just in that so many games run, but they've been improved to the point where they're unquestionably the best way to play them. Red Dead Redemption in 4K, Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts in 4K, Mirror's Edge in HDR, EDF at 60fps… all astonishing improvements over the originals.

It's a shame they've now suspended the back-compat programme until the release of next gen (I still had a fair few titles I was holding out on that haven't made the cut), but if they end up making the same improvements for Xbone games running on Scarlett as they have done for 360 games running on Xbone, it'll be a minor miracle and absolutely the best reason to stick with Xbox in the next generation.

Not Game Pass, but EDF 2017 is free on Games with Gold this month.

Have they changed the rules of GwG, in that you now need to be a Live member in order to play GwG titles you grab? It used to be that you didn't, hence how I got Burnout Paradise (I think) using a two-week trial. But I'm sure I read something today as I was unboxing my new Xbone S - finally! - that said you needed a membership to play.

Any ideas? I've got a month trial code with my console, so will obviously grab anything that's free when the time comes to redeem it.

I think you need to remain a Live subscriber to play Xbox One games that have been obtained through GwG, but 360 games are yours permanently. That may have changed but it’s definitely how it was originally. Some limitation of the licensing system I assume.

The backward compatibility feature of the Xbox One is one of the real marvels of this console generation.

Which neatly sums up why I've barely played any games this generation.

Resident Evil: Revelations and Rare Replay going up tomorrow.

Revelations is a perfect 'never played but quite interested' title for me. And Rare Replay is just wonderful.

Torment: Tides of Numenera for PC folk the following week, too, another one that's been on my list for ages.

Anyone played Outer Wilds yet? If you haven't played Outer Wilds yet, play Outer Wilds.

Don't read any reviews, or articles. Just go in blind.

Too many games to play. As soon as I get my internet sorted, I'm all over Games Pass.

I really didn’t get on with Outer Wilds at all, but it’s certainly interesting.

Oh really? I just think it does mystery better than any other game I've played. And the creepy, vastness of space (despite being pretty compact).

Not to mention the way your ship computer tracks half-uncovered 'rumours', which is a stroke of genius.

It's like a weird love-letter to Myst, LucasArts adventures and No Man's Sky, and it somehow makes that work.

I just sort of wandered around talking to tedious aliens for an hour or so, then landed on a rock and wandered around a bit more without really knowing why. I fully accept I’ve probably missed the point though.

Haha yes you didn't really make it to the 'first bit'.

If you get time I'd recommend going back (you should be able to get straight into space this time) and explore a little more.

Although appreciate the ridiculous backlog of games we all have these days.

Insane with work and still addicted to Apex Legends but heard great things about the games mentioned, so as soon as the summer holidays hit I will try them.

https://kotaku.com/outer-wilds-is-one-of-the-best-games-ive-ever-played-1835801654

Just trying to drum up more support for The Outer Wilds. Jason Schreier called it one of the best games he's ever played.

It really is special. (The article spoils more than I would have, but still not much.)

I mentioned it a while back. It's charming, for suresies.

More games anyone? (Apologies for copy/pasted stupid backwards American dates)

Middle-earth: Shadow of War – 7/4
My Time at Portia – 7/4
Undertale – 7/4
Blazing Chrome – 7/11
Dead Rising 4 – 7/11
LEGO City Undercover – 7/11
Timespinner – 7/11
Unavowed – 7/11

Looks like Timespinner, Unavowed and Undertale are PC only, and Lego City is Xbox only. All the others are on both.

Aw, really? I wanted Timespinner. PC only my arse.

Spent an enjoyable hour playing the impressively juvenile Void Bastards, a sci-fi roguelike with comic book visuals that’s on Game Pass right now. It’s not really my sort of thing but you can’t really fault a game where enemies chase you round a derelict spaceship shouting “Oi! Twatface” then call you a knobhead when you shoot them.

Upcoming:

August 1

Ashes Cricket (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)
Ashes Cricket brings all the fast-paced action, big hits, and skill that you see in the greatest cricket competition in the world, in both a more realistic and authentic way than ever before.

Pandemic (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)
As members of an elite disease control team, you’re the only thing standing in the way of the four deadly diseases spreading across the world. Travel the globe protecting cities, contain infections from spreading, and discover the cure for each disease. The fate of humanity is in your hands!

Downwell (Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)
Venture down into a darkness filled with nasty creatures (and mysterious secrets) to collect spectacular red gems scattered about the rocks in search of untold treasures. Armed only with your Gunboots for protection, battle well-dwelling monsters and uncover hidden caves filled with riches and relics.

August 8

Jackbox Party Pack 2 (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)
The sequel to the party game phenomenon The Jackbox Party Pack, featuring five fresh, rib-tickling party games supporting up to eight players. It’s a game-night riot in a box… without the box!

Space Hulk Tactics (Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)
A faithful adaptation of the board game “Space Hulk” bringing a unique twist to the cult classic formula. Engage in bloody battles through an immense Space Hulk — a twisted mass of asteroids, wrecked star ships, and debris – as either a squad of Terminator Space Marines or the deadly alien Genestealers.

August 14

Slay the Spire (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate)
Fusing card games and roguelikes together in an original single-player, deckbuilder adventure. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, and discover relics of immense power to slay the spire!

Don't forget the awesome Castlevania: Lords of Shadow being in Games With Gold this month too.

Oh, and some shit about Gears 5 and Forza 6.

Will check out Slay the Spire as hear nothing but good things but not decided to take the plunge on Switch yet.

Prior to heading away was playing Graveyard keeper on GP and was loving that.

Slay The Spire is genuinely one of the best games I’ve ever played.

Several of us here in Frankfurt are heading into Sea of Thieves tomorrow. I suspect it will end badly.

Is Pandemic not showing up for anyone else on gamespass? Can't see it anywhere but have checked around was was supposed to be there on the first.

I got an alert about it on the Game Pass app… doesn't show up if I search for it though.

Slay the Spire is now out on the Xbox.

Yoku’s Island Express today as well, that’s a nice surprise. It’s a great little game if you haven’t already played it.

That wasn't announced… nice little treat there then.

Downloaded Slay, so I'll get round to it eventually. Probably.

Tried a couple more GamePass games, pretty much at random.

Ape Out is simplistic, repetitive and ugly. Walk from left to right punching things and try to avoid getting shot. Soundtrack is like someone throwing a drum kit down the stairs. Bored after 5 minutes.

Wizard of Legend is a rock-hard procedurally-generated roguelike of the kind where you have to play it a thousand times dying within two minutes each time to stand a chance of unlocking anything that allows you to survive even fractionally longer. It's actually quite good fun in co-op but I can't recommend it much in single-player. Also ugly.

GamePass is a great way of finding out what you don't like.

Gears 5 is great so far.

It's run-of-the-mill Gears combat (odd how they make you do a tutorial, surely everyone knows how it works by now) elevated by better-than-usual writing and stunning visuals – all running at 60fps on the One X.

Better-than-usual writing still doesn't mean brilliant. It's just a lot more enjoyable than before, with an Uncharted-style lightness of touch. And the female protagonist is a breath of fresh air in the testosterone swamp.

I’ve only played the first one and I wasn’t much of a fan. Can I jump to the new one without being hopelessly confused? I assume plot-wise it’s not exactly War and Peace.

1-3 are self-contained. Number 4 jumps forward in time and begins a new trilogy, that's vaguely linked to the originals.

But no, you don't really play Gears for the plot. I couldn't tell you what happened in the 4th game, and I played that last year. Just shoot the big aliens with the chunky guns.

Honestly, that could be the title of the series.

If that catches on I'm demanding royalties.

I'm really not sure on Gears 5.

Looks nice, in a sort of "sliders up to 11" sort of way. But it's essentially moving forwards, hiding, and shooting things in the face. The plot makes no sense (and I played some of Gears 4). And I'm sure its lost some of the feel of the original (it sort of feels vaguely loose to me, but perhaps this is the move to 60fps). It's enjoyable enough, but it's starting to look really tired.

And the unskippable tutorial can do one.

Controversial opinion, but Gears has never been better than 'good'. It's a repetitive corridor shooter with nothing but bullshit gun worship behind it.