Tag: xbox

Categories
Mobile Syrup

MobileSyrup’s top 10 games of 2022

One of the things I love most about video games is their versatility as an art form.

Movies more or less all carry the same runtimes while adhering to similar visual languages, books are primarily relegated to text and TV shows have to follow an episodic format. All of these structures have their own benefits, to be sure, but the intrinsic beauty of games is that they can really be any combination of all three.

Looking back on the year that was for gaming, I’m reminded of that fact. After playing around 50 new games and keeping up with many more, I’m in awe at the staggering variety of the kinds of experiences that were created this year alone. An FMV game that uses interactivity and metatextuality to immerse players in a decades-spanning mystery. A grueling dark fantasy world that creates an unparalled sense of discovery and companionship. A cyberpunk RPG about finding hope and meaning in an unrelentingly harsh city. A cat simulator that captured the hearts of gamers and non-gamers alike. A 100-plus-hour existential odyssey. A fighter in which Batman, Shaggy Rogers and LeBron James can duke it out. Games can be pretty much anything.

Naturally, this has made putting together a top 10 list an enjoyably tricky challenge. I thought long and hard about this, which is why it’s coming mere days before 2023 rolls in. But in the end, I’m happy with what I’ve picked. Before I go further, though, I should fully acknowledge the quality of Elden Ring. Developer FromSoftware’s rich and freeing open-world design that encourages exploration without any hand-holding is extremely commendable and even ground-breaking. The action-RPG is, without question, a monumental achievement and absolutely worthy of all the Game of the Year accolades it’s received. However, it’s not something I got into, as I don’t generally enjoy experiences that are so punishing or lore-heavy without some core narrative hook. If I’m going to spend close to 100 hours playing a game, I typically need to care enough about the story and people who take part in it. Therefore, it’s not on this list.

With that out of the way, here’s the top 10!

10. Marvel Snap

Marvel Snap

Image credit: Second Dinner/Marvel

Platforms: iOS, Android, PC (early access)

As someone who almost never enjoys mobile gaming, I’m surprised that I fell in love with Marvel Snap earlier this year. That’s because developer Second Dinner crafted an experience that is absolutely perfect to play your phone. It’s an elegantly simple card game that’s designed around appreciably bite-sized matches using decks of just 12 cards, making it remarkably easy to pick up and play. The Marvel license enhances the novelty of collecting new cards, but even if you took that away, this is just a damn good game. Honestly, the only reason why this isn’t higher is that I forced myself to stop playing to get to other things — it’s that addictive.

9. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Karby

Image credit: Nintendo

Platform: Nintendo Switch

In the first five minutes of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, our titular pink hero sucks up an entire car and zooms around a post-apocalyptic city that looks straight out of The Last of Us. It’s an absolutely hilarious and outlandish sight to behold, and it sets the tone for the next 10 hours. Through the game, there’s a consistent joy in finding what new everyday object Kirby would comically stretch around and absorb next, be it a traffic cone to stomp on enemies with earth-shattering force, a lightbulb to navigate ghost-infested areas or a vending machine to blast pop cans like a machine gun. Throw in some gorgeously vibrant and charming stages, a solid assortment of upgradable enemy-copying abilities and a delightfully bonkers Platinum Games-esque final stretch and Kirby and the Forgotten Land is such a treat.

8. Neon White

Neon White

Image credit: Annapurna Interactive

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, PC

On a raw, moment-to-moment enjoyment level, Neon White might actually be the most fun I’ve had in a game this year. As the deceased assassin White, your job is to clear out demon-infested afterworld stages as quickly as possible to appease your heavenly overlords. The anime-inspired story is reasonably entertaining, especially thanks to stellar voice work from the likes of Steve Blum, but it’s mostly just an excuse for an utterly engrossing speedrunning-focused experience. It’s a breathtakingly thrilling gameplay loop in which you have to maintain momentum while collecting ‘Soul Cards’ to alternate between attacking enemies and executing unique traversal moves to continue forward. The balletic pace of ping-ponging between platforms as I jump, slide, shoot, dash and zipline my way through hellish creatures created an exhilarating rush I’ve rarely felt in games. Even as someone who otherwise couldn’t care less about speedrunning, Neon White‘s short, tightly paced levels and fast and frenetic traversal have me genuinely eager to continue to try to improve my clear times.

7. Immortality

Immortality Marissa

Image credit: Half Mermaid

Platforms: Xbox consoles (and Game Pass), Netflix Games (iOS/Android)

Every once in a while, you come across a story that could only be told in a video game, and Immortality is the epitome of that. It seems simple enough at first; like other FMV titles, your job is to review live-action video files from three fictional movies to piece together the story — in this case, the strange disappearance of actress Marissa Marcel. But it’s how developer Half Mermaid has interwoven all of these clips — a ‘match-cut’ mechanic that lets you click on one person or object to jump to something similar in another piece of footage — that feels genuinely innovative. It’s a thoughtful way of encouraging you to carefully study clips to consider how they might connect to others. Adding layers to the narrative is the fact that hidden footage lies behind many clips that you have to figure out how to reveal, and discovering these proved to be some of the most fascinating, if bone-chilling, moments I’ve had in a game in years. To say more would spoil Immortality‘s many surprises, but suffice it to say that this is one mystery you’ll absolutely want to solve.

6. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope

Image credit: Nintendo/Ubisoft

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Admittedly, my initial interest in Ubisoft Milan’s Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope almost entirely stemmed from the involved musical talent: my second-favourite composer of all time, Yoko Shimomura (Kingdom Hearts), as well as Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie) and Gareth Coker (Ori and the Blind Forest). And sure enough, their soundtrack for the game is magnificent. But I was absolutely elated to discover an absolutely fantastic turn-based strategy experience in its own right.

The ability to move around in real-time adds a lot of thought to character placement, while the titular ability-granting Sparks allow for a wonderful level of mix-and-match customization. Whether it was giving ace sniper Luigi a cloaking power so he can sneak around and pick apart enemies or the punky blade-wielding Edge a regenerative ability to charge an area like a tank, I was constantly eager to keep building out my team for greater tactical efficiency. The amusingly self-deprecating humour about the Rabbids and impressive explorable 3D Mario-inspired overworlds only sweetened the deal.

5. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West San Francisco

Image credit: PlayStation

Platform: PlayStation 4/PlayStation 5

With Horizon Forbidden West, Guerrilla Games meaningfully addressed pretty much every issue I had with its 2017 predecessor. The cast of characters was richer and more three-dimensional. The Breath of the Wild-esque glider made traversal a lot more seamless, encouraging greater exploration of its stunning post-apocalyptic, robot-infested world. The once-bland melee combat was significantly expanded to include a satisfying array of combos and upgrades. At the same time, everything else that was already great about the original game, including the tight bow mechanics and fascinating lore, were made better than ever. Bring on Horizon 3.

4. Pentiment

Pentiment murder

Image credit: Xbox

Platforms: Xbox consoles (and Xbox Game Pass), PC

Over the past few decades, Obsidian has made a name for itself for rich, choice-driven narratives, and Pentiment might just be the purest distillation of the developer’s strengths to date. In many ways, the mechanically-light experience is more like a visual novel (just look at Hannah Kennedy’s wondrous art!), but it’s ultimately better for it. Rather, Obsidian focused on crafting a magnificently well-realized version of 16th century Bolivia and an enrapturing murder mystery at the heart of it.

Best of all, the developer refuses to reveal a canon killer, forcing you to instead consider the ramifications of your choices on the townspeople over the course of the game’s sprawling 25-year tale. Seeing characters come and go — maturing or regressing, living or dying — in response to both the time period’s political and religious turmoil and my own decisions created a more profound connection to this world than I’ve had with many games. In a day and age where many people seemingly expect everything to be wrapped up cleanly, Obsidian’s restraint in keeping things ambiguous and thought-provoking is absolutely admirable.

3. Citizen Sleeper

Image credit: Fellow Traveler

Platforms: Xbox consoles (and Game Pass), Nintendo Switch, PC

Nowadays, it’s not uncommon in media to see variations on the “capitalism bad” type of story. And while that will always be inherently true, it can also feel fairly rote at times. Citizen Sleeper, however, approaches these themes in a much more unique way. Yes, it’s undoubtedly about capitalism, but what impressed me the most is its unflinchingly uplifting spirit. While the central dice-roll mechanic is a tacit commentary on how life can often deal you a shitty hand, it’s Citizen Sleeper‘s focus on the power of human connection that shines through.

Doing daily hard labour to scrape together just enough money to buy food and life-saving medicine, you have to make the best with what you’ve got, so how you choose to spend your time — be that by sharing a story with a local street vendor below the stars or bonding with a struggling father and his adopted daughter — is how one ultimately finds existence in your life. These moments create an achingly beautiful tenderness to Citizen Sleeper, made even more earnest when factoring its allegorical relevance to developer Gareth Damian Martin’s experiences as a non-binary person in the gig-economy. A soulful, deeply moving experience that I won’t forget.

2. Live A Live

Live A Live character artwork

Image credit: Square Enix/Nintendo

Platform: Nintendo Switch

I’ve been in love with Square RPGs like Final Fantasy for most of my life, so discovering that the company was remaking this once-Japan-exclusive SNES title with jaw-droppingly stunning HD-2D visuals was incredibly tantalizing. Thankfully, this long-lost game actually exceeded my expectations in practically every way. Where Octopath Traveler disappointed me with its repetitive structure and disparate storylines, Live A Live uses its seven standalone scenarios to great effect.

There was an unmitigated sense of wonder and excitement in exploring each time period, ranging from a charming, dialogue-free prehistoric love story and suave Sergio Leone-inspired spaghetti western  to near-future kaiju hijinks and the far-out Alien-esque spaceship murder mystery. If that weren’t enough, additional chapters later open up that tie everything together in a surprisingly gripping way, adding the deeper hook that Octopath always lacked for me. That’s to say nothing of Yoko Shimomura’s fantastic soundtrack, which is just full of bangers. All told, Live A Live was, for several months, the 2022 game to beat for me, until…

1. God of War Ragnarök

God of War Ragnarok Kratos and Atreus

Image credit: PlayStation

Platforms: PlayStation 4/PlayStation 5

At the start of this list, I mentioned that the games that resonate with me the most are the ones that have compelling stories and characters. That’s God of War Ragnarök to a tee — more so, in fact, than almost every game I’ve ever played. To be able to say that about an action game — a genre in which story is usually an afterthought — is no small feat. To be clear, there’s definitely a tightly constructed combat system that’s punchy and visceral while still allowing for experimentation through an engaging character customization systems. And make no mistake: there’s also expansive-yet-manageable interconnected world full of interesting sidequests, rewarding loot and fascinating world-building.

But why I love God of War Ragnarök — why it has quickly become one of my all-time favourite games — is its heartwrenching and personal father-son story. The intensely relatable specificity with which Santa Monica Studio tells this narrative hit me hard, and that was only strengthened by the expertly written and acted cast and enthralling twists and turns of the plot. By the end of my time with the game, I was moved to tears; I truly felt like I’d gone on this journey with these characters and changed with them. To me, that’s the real power of games, and God of War Ragnarök encapsulates that perfectly.

Honourable mentions: A Plague Tale: Requiem, Hindsight, Sifu, The Quarry and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

What are your favourite games of the year? Let us know in the comments.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Xbox’s Countdown sale discounts up to 60 percent off

Microsoft’s ‘Countdown Sale’ discounts several games up to 60 percent off until January 2nd. Additionally, controllers and the Xbox Series S are also on sale.

Discounted games include Game of the Year winner Elden Ring, Madden NFL 23, Cyberpunk 2077, Gotham Knights and more.

The Xbox Series S is $80 off — you can check it out here. And as previously mentioned, Xbox controllers are also on sale until December 30th. 

Here are the games below:

There are a ton more games available at a discounted rate that you can check out Xbox’s site.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Rick and Morty co-creator’s High on Life ditched Stadia to break records on Xbox

Xbox has announced that High on Life, the latest title from Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland’s Squanch Games, has set three Xbox Game Pass records.

In a blog post, the gaming giant confirmed that the comedic sci-fi shooter, which hit Xbox consoles and PC on December 12th, is the biggest Game Pass launch of any third-party title to date, the biggest Game Pass release of 2022 and the biggest single-player launch in Game Pass history. Xbox says these stats are based on the number of hours played in the first five days of release.

Having any new IP hit a milestone like this is significant in and of itself, but High on Life‘s success is especially notable since the game was originally set to release on Google Stadia, as reported in June by Axios‘ Stephen Totillo. We’ve since learned that Google’s struggling game streaming platform is officially set to shutter next month, so Squanch Games certainly dodged a bullet with this one.

In High on Life, players assume the role of a teenage bounty hunter who must use living weapons to save Earth from an alien invasion. As a Roiland-produced project, the game also has a ton of Rick and Morty-esque humour, although that’s proven to be a bit divisive so far.

Xbox Game Pass costs $11.99/month or $16.99 for Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Game Pass for console and PC, EA Play, Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Image credit: Squanch Games

Source: Xbox

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Xbox Game Pass could be the next subscription service to get a cheaper ad tier

Microsoft has floated the idea of introducing a lower-cost, ad-supported membership for Xbox Game Pass.

In a new survey sent to some Spanish Xbox players, per Windows Central, the tech giant looked to gauge interest in a number of hypothetical less expensive Game Pass subscriptions.

One of the proposed memberships would be to pay a lower fee to get first-party Xbox games as much as six months later, a significant change from Game Pass’ current promise of day-one exclusives. An even cheaper tier could also introduce ads into the service, which would presumably play when a game is launched.

Interestingly, Windows Central notes that Microsoft recently patented a method to show personalized ads in games, which is curious timing considering the new survey.

It’s also worth noting that many streaming services have been introducing lower-cost, ad-supported memberships as a way to drive growth. In November, Netflix launched the $5.99 CAD/month ‘Basic with Ads’ subscription in Canada and other markets, while U.S. services like Disney’s Hulu, Warner’s HBO Max and NBC Universal’s Peacock also offering similar ad-enabled alternatives. Disney+ even just got an ad-supported option in the U.S. earlier this month, although it’s unclear if and when it will expand to Canada.

Given how Game Pass already draws inspiration from the on-demand nature of these streaming services, it’s easy to see how Microsoft might also be looking at how they’ve been handling ads. Of course, it’s important to stress that surveys and patents are not the same as an actual confirmation, so it remains to be seen whether Microsoft will go down this route.

For now, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said the price of Game Pass will inevitably go up, but not until next year at the earliest. The company has confirmed that the cost of first-party Xbox Series X/S games will also increase next year ahead of Starfield.

Source: Windows Central

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Xbox’s Phil Spencer believes Sony maintains dominance ‘by making Xbox smaller’

Xbox head Phil Spencer recently sat down for a podcast and discussed the current landscape of the Activision Blizzard acquisition. During his time speaking with Second Request podcast, Spencer touched on Sony’s desire “to protect its dominance” in the console space. Spencer also believes “The way they grow is by making Xbox smaller.”

Microsoft and Sony are in direct opposition over the former’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. With a $68.9 billion USD (roughly $93.9 billion CAD) deal on the line and multiple blockbuster franchises in the mix, both are fighting to legitimize their arguments. Xbox largely hopes to bring IPs like Call of Duty, Overwatch, Diablo and Activision’s associated studios under its wing. Sony, afraid it may lose access to these games on its consoles, is fighting against Microsoft on the basis of being anti-competitive.

Microsoft is currently looking to appease regulators, especially authoritative bodies in the U.K. However, Sony has been combative throughout the process. “Sony is leading the dialogue around why the deal shouldn’t go through to protect its dominant position on console, so the thing they grab onto is Call of Duty,” Spencer states.

Call of Duty has largely been a focal point throughout this ordeal. The blockbuster franchise is currently a multi-platform juggernaut and one that PlayStation wants to ensure access to. Spencer has tried to appeal to Sony. Microsoft assures the company that Call of Duty will retain its positioning on PlayStation consoles. Spencer went as far as to offer access to Call of Duty for “at least several more years.” PlayStation head Jim Ryan publicly claims this offer is “inadequate on many levels.” Spencer then brought a 10-year offer to the table.

Sony has yet to accept or deny the offer. In a further attempt to prove its positioning against anticompetition, Microsoft offered the same deal to Nintendo, which wholeheartedly accepted. Similarly to what was offered to Valve and Steam, Call of Duty may potentially land on Nintendo hardware for the next decade if the deal goes through. However, it remains to be seen whether Sony will play ball with Microsoft or continue placing barriers.

“The largest console maker in the world raising an objection about the one franchise that we’ve said will continue to ship on the platform,” Spencer says.

U.K. regulators and Sony aren’t the only bodies fighting against Microsoft. Last week, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed its opposition against Microsoft’s acquisition. The EU, who is also looking into the deal, has a deadline of March 23rd, 2023 to finalize its investigation.

Image credit: Microsoft

Source: The Verge

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Microsoft to raise price of Xbox Series X/S games in 2023 ahead of Starfield

The cost of Xbox Series X/S games is officially set to increase next year.

In a statement to IGN, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the price of first-party games for its current-gen consoles will increase from $60 to $70 USD (roughly $95 CAD) in 2023.

Canadian pricing wasn’t confirmed, but other current-gen titles cost $90 CAD, so it’s likely that Xbox will follow suit. We’ve reached out to Xbox for confirmation and will update this response once a response has been received.

“This price reflects the content, scale, and technical complexity of these titles,” the representative told IGN, noting that all of these games will also be on Xbox Game Pass on day one.

2023 is set to be a big year for Xbox, with heavy hitters like Bethesda’s Starfield and Redfall set for the first half of the year. The next Forza Motorsport is also slated for 2023. There are many other undated, long-gestating Xbox first-party titles, such as Obsidian’s Avowed, Rare’s Everwild and Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.

That said, Xbox Game Pass has been offering day one access to all Xbox first-party games since 2018, giving consumers an alternative from paying full price to purchase titles. Xbox Game Pass costs $11.99/month on Xbox and PC or $16.99/month for Game Pass Ultimate, which includes the service for both platforms as well as Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Cloud Gaming and EA Play.

Xbox raising game prices brings the company in line with several other publishers. Sony has been charging $90 CAD for PS5 titles, while third-parties like 2K and EA have been charging the same amount for most of their big games. Ubisoft also confirmed in September that its upcoming AAA games will cost $70 USD. As it stands, Nintendo continues to sell Switch games for $60 USD/$80 CAD.

The Xbox games price increase comes shortly after Xbox chief Phil Spencer confirmed that consoles themselves won’t see a price increase until at least after this holiday season. It also remains to be seen when Game Pass itself may see a price hike, especially if the big games it includes, such as Starfield, are set to cost more.

Source: IGN

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Here’s why you should play Immortality, 2022’s most innovative and original game

I recently wrote about how much God of War Ragnarök‘s father-son story resonated with me.

It’s easily my favourite game of the year, and certainly an all-timer for me on the whole. But while I had the biggest emotional connection to Kratos and Atreus’ journey, there’s another 2022 game that I recently beat which had one of the most fascinating and unique stories I’ve ever seen in a game: Immortality.

It’s the latest game from Sam Barlow, the creator of the 2015 FMV game Her Story and its 2019 spiritual successor, Telling Lies. Like those two titles, Immortality features an assortment of pre-recorded live-action video files through which you have to piece together the larger story.

While FMV experiences have been around for many years, it’s Barlow and developer Half Mermaid Productions’ execution that truly sells Immortality. In the game, you have to figure out what happened to Marisa Marcel, a model-turned-actress who starred in three unreleased movies. As the player, you go through clips of each film — the 1968 gothic romance film Ambrosio, the 1970 mystery Minsky and 1999 thriller Two of Everything. In any given clip, selecting a person or object of interest will jump you to a corresponding piece of footage from one of the other films or behind-the-scenes recordings. Sometimes, this is as obvious as clicking Marissa or one of her co-stars, but elsewhere, it might relate to something seemingly insignificant in the background, like a piece of fruit. This mechanic, which Barlow has dubbed “the match cut,” is incredibly innovative. The ways in which the games 202 clips are connected are staggering, and I can’t imagine the sort of flow chart that was created to map it all out.

Immortality cast reading

It also helps that the three fictional films are also just remarkably well done. Besides tapping into different time periods, they each have their own distinct style and tone, with sharp dialogue and incredible performances across the board. Of particular note is Manon Gage, the newcomer who portrays Marissa, who has to juggle three different roles throughout the films on top of quickly shifting to the real Marissa when the camera stops rolling. It’s a mesmerizing performance and cements her as an up-and-coming actress to look out for. Charlotta Mohlin (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) is another magnificently commanding presence, although her role is a surprise I won’t dare reveal.

Indeed, it’s difficult to say too much more about Immortality without going into spoiler territory, as the game is best experienced going in as dark as possible. But suffice it to say that there are many layers to this tale. With the help of writers Barry Gifford, Amelia Gray and Allan Scott, Barlow has penned a time-hopping narrative that’s just dripping with intrigue. You know there’s something else going on here, but you can’t quite put your finger on it — a feeling that only increases as you get to learn more about Marissa and the rest of the cast. What’s more, Barlow graciously respects your intelligence and leaves it up to you to figure things out — something many games, including God of War Ragnarök, often fail to do. In fact, you can technically “beat” the game within a handful of hours, but you’re rewarded for digging deeper through clips to unlock well-hidden revelations. The moment I discovered the first of these is one of the most bone-chilling and surreal moments I’ve ever experienced in a game.

Immortality Marissa

Because sure, it’s clear pretty early on that Barlow is making a commentary on art and the filmmaking process, but how he explores those themes — and uses the game’s mechanics to make you, the player, an active participant in it — is downright brilliant. It’s the sort of story that could only be told in a game due to its interactivity, and it’s a wholly original one, at that. If you’re subscribed to Netflix, you can play Immortality for free right now on Android or iOS, one of the best value propositions for the streamer’s fledgling gaming platform. It’s also on Xbox and PC, plus Xbox Game Pass, which is where I played it.
If you’re at all a fan of narrative in games, you absolutely should play Immortality.

(Note: a controller is recommended to pick up on vibrational cues.)

Image credit: Half Mermaid Productions

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Sonic Frontiers delivers a delicious taste of the early 2000s ‘Adventure’ experience

The date is November 4th, 2011.

It’s the lead-up to the weekend, meaning that my mom would pick up my brother and me from school in Toronto and drive back over to Brampton.

This particular week was quite special, however, as Sonic Generations released on Tuesday and my anticipation for the game was immense. I still remember endlessly playing the demo on PlayStation 3 leading up to its release.

As a middle-school student, I did not have a lot of money to spend or even ask for, but my mother made an exception for this game.

If I were to trap those memories into a time capsule, it would contain all the ridiculous hours consuming Sonic Generations. If I wasn’t playing through the game, I was watching two of my favourite content creators Somecallmejohnny (a person who was one of my inspirations for creative writing) and ClementJ642 duking it out in the leaderboards.

I could go on about how Sonic the Hedgehog has both directly and indirectly influenced my life, specifically the 3D games because those are what I grew up with.

It’s also the reason why I remained cautiously optimistic with Sonic Frontiers until launch, because I wanted the game to be good since primary Sonic developer Sonic Team’s reputation is pretty rocky.

Not to say that the recent games were outright terrible, but Sonic Team lost my trust with Sonic Forces. It was tonally ridiculous (World War 3 in the Sonic universe does not work), the level design was flat and classic Sonic felt (pardon the pun) forced into the game because they were playing the nostalgia-bait card again.

It didn’t help that Sonic Frontiers’ marketing was not great at the start. All we saw was Sonic interacting with a lifeless, bleak-looking world without any signs of the traditional levels or Sonic’s banter with his friends.

Thankfully, not only did the marketing greatly improve but so did my own general feelings. As I played through the first couple of hours, it felt like I was back in my pre-teenager self eating Frosted Flakes and playing video games in front of the TV.

Live and Learn from your past

I’m a firm believer that instead of forgetting the past, we should embrace and learn from our mistakes, even if we fail to learn the first time.

Because of this mindset, I think it’s fair to look back at Sonic Team’s track record at storytelling and gameplay mechanics. Before Sonic fans click off this review, I’m not going to mention Sonic ’06 or Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric.

Instead, I want to comment on Sonic Colors, Forces, Lost World and even Generations, as I feel these games highlight Sonic Team’s lack of direction with developing new characters and characterizing pre-existing ones.

One character that really showcases this issue is none other than Sonic’s sidekick Miles “Tails” Prower. Throughout the aforementioned games, Tails’ development is both confusing and inconsistent. For example, Sonic Colors does a great job of showing how useful he is as Sonic’s partner, as he’s cunning and witty. Then Lost World’s story has him getting angry at Sonic for not trusting his intelligence (for no good reason) and working with Eggman to stop the Deadly Six. Talk about mood whiplash.

However, the biggest crime comes from Sonic Forces as Tails, the person who stood up to Eggman when he was about to blow up Station Square in Sonic Adventure and fights multiple powerful versions of Chaos, becomes scared of the base form of Chaos and cries for Sonic.

Tails, while timid in his own right, is a character that does stand up for himself, even if the situation is quite scary. While he’s not as direct in handling situations like Sonic, he makes up for it with mechanical skills and intelligence. Sonic Forces essentially killed his character, making him one of many characters that I felt previous Sonic writers never really understood.

Sonic Frontiers KnucklesHowever, instead of disregarding the previous games, Sonic Frontiers actually embraces these flaws and weaves them into the storytelling. For example, Tails actually comes to terms with his problems about co-dependency on Sonic and, specifically, references plot details from Forces. Not only that, but there are so many references to the older games (including the classics) that had me constantly grinning during my playthrough.

For the first time in over a decade, I felt these characters had a clear sense of direction that was actually written by a Sonic fan. This is in special part to the involvement of Ian Flynn, the lead writer for Sonic IDW comics that have been well received for a long time. While the overall story did have some issues, I loved the characterization and I’m eager to see how this writing carries over to the next game.

Finding your own flame

Takashi Iizuka, the head of Sonic Team, coined the phrase ‘open-zone’ to describe the gameplay for Sonic Frontiers. While it sounds like techno-babble (Apple’s ‘dynamic island’ springs to mind), it really does describe the gameplay quite well.

Sonic Frontiers is not an open-world; rather it’s filled with bigger sandbox levels that have various obstacles and puzzles to explore. Though these worlds lack any real presence besides Sonic’s friends and the Kocos (adorable stones used to enhance Sonic), that’s not really essential for this game’s setting.

Instead, it’s about the joy of travelling around the islands. This is only further highlighted as you complete more puzzles and open up new routes to run quickly between areas. The more you play and complete challenges, the more these islands feel like traditional Sonic stages.

Sonic Frontiers running on wall

I especially loved experiencing the freedom of running around the world without the constraints of sticking to one specific path imposed by the past Sonic games. There was also a sense of reward when you had to figure out how to travel from one place to another without the game explicitly pointing out how you needed to go. This type of exploration is also encouraged because of the various collectibles that are scattered across the map that you need in order to progress the story. These include vault keys, memory tokens, portal gears and purple coins.

While these may sound tedious, especially for a Sonic game, I didn’t find it to be a nuisance. That’s because you can acquire all these items alternatively through Big the Cat’s fishing mini-game, a fun distraction with lots of useful rewards. It also helps that Sonic himself controls quite well, with the added feature of customizing exactly how you want him to play. This includes movement speed, jump height and more, making this the most accessible Sonic game (control-wise) to date.

Another addition to the overall gameplay is the revamped combat system. Since Sonic Frontiers reintroduces enemies with health bars, the blue hedgehog decided to take some fighting lessons from the Devil May Cry series. Sonic can perform parries, initiate combos and even has a skill tree to upgrade moves, though it’s really simplistic. The combat system is not fully realized, but it was quite enjoyable to fight different mini-bosses and even opened up some different combat strategies.

via GIPHY

However, there’s more than the open-zone gameplay in Sonic Frontiers — you also have the cyber space levels. These are bite-sized platforming levels using the ‘boost’ formula, where the player has to quickly traverse through the stage while reacting to various obstacles at high speeds. They also contain four challenges that include reaching the goal, clearing with a S rank time, collecting all the red rings and finishing the level with a certain amount of rings. While I was concerned about this approach because of Sonic Forces’ shorter stages, these provide a great burst of challenge without overstaying their welcome.

Not exactly all fist bumps

However, while the cyberspace levels provide a lot of fun, they also bring up most of the issues I have with Sonic Frontiers.

For starters, there are over 28 levels but Sonic Team reuses the same four aesthetics present in Sonic Generations. It’s still baffling that we can’t move past Green Hill Zone and Chemical Plant is starting to become an eyesore. Unfortunately, this laziness is also present in the level design because most are a copy-and-paste job from previous 3D games. It’s a double-edged sword because it makes the stages fun to play through at the cost of unoriginality. However, if you’re not familiar with the older games, this probably won’t be an issue.

via GIPHY

What is a universal problem is how Sonic controls in these stages. While I have a lot of praise when it comes to the open-zone gameplay, those controls don’t necessarily translate well to cyber space levels. Specifically, I found that basic 2D platforming was incredibly awkward for precise jumps, though there are some 3D stages that highlighted issues regarding sharp turns and double-jumping.

Outside of the cyber space levels, I can’t ignore the multiple graphical issues during the open-zone islands. There are numerous issues with objects popping in, textures looking right out of an early PS2 title and some cutscenes feeling hollow and unfinished. However, if the world can accept Pokémon Violet and Scarlet’s horribly poor performance, which is worse than anything you see in Sonic Frontiers, then these graphical issues are comparatively quite minor.

Undefeatable in Certified Hits

There are some guarantees in life: death, taxes and Sonic games having phenomenal soundtracks, and Sonic Frontiers is no exception.

In fact, it’s one of the best since Sonic ’06, with so many varied tracks ranging from peaceful and atmospheric to high-energy EDM and metalcore. Long-time series composer Tomoya Ohtani has dabbled through different genres before (with some being hit-or-miss), but he’s finally perfected it here.

I can’t quite describe the levels of euphoria I felt when I first heard “Undefeatable,” the first Super Sonic titan theme, but the joy was very similar to listening to hearing veteran Sonic composer Crush 40’s final boss songs.

Endless Possibilities

Overall, what Sonic Frontiers has achieved is a reminder that Sonic Team can be successful when ambitious.

Many people see this game as the hedgehog’s revival or that “he’s back” to being a video game mascot. While it’s not inaccurate to say (Sonic Frontiers currently has an 82 percent user score on Metacritic and is being received overwhelmingly positive on Steam), I honestly feel like he’s never left. We’ve had other entries such as Sonic Mania, Lost World and even the 3DS Sonic Boom titles that delivered a good experience.

Instead, it’s more like Sonic has his own Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance moment, pulling no punches and embracing the attitude that made him a lasting icon for over 30 years.

Sonic Frontiers isn’t perfect, but it’s a giant leap in the right direction as Sonic Team has finally made the right evolution to the hedgehog’s core gameplay. Most importantly, it was the most fun I’ve had with Sonic outside of the Adventure games and Generations.

To my surprise, they’re also continuing to support Sonic Frontiers with free DLC next year, introducing new challenge modes, small quality-of-life improvements and playable characters (a feature Sonic Team has avoided since Sonic ’06).

With all the positive press and continuing support, my hope is that Sonic Team uses this game to deliver an even better experience. This time, I’m quite hopeful that they will keep their promise.

Sonic Frontiers is available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (review on Series S), Switch and PC via Steam for $79.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Image credit: Sega

Categories
Mobile Syrup

What’s new on Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and mobile in early December 2022

Every month, Xbox brings new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

Normally, these come in two waves and now, the company has revealed what’s coming to Game Pass in the first half of December. Note: ‘Cloud’ refers to a game that can be streamed via Xbox Cloud Gaming to a variety of devices, including Android and iOS.

Highlights this month include this year’s Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Justin Roiland’s High on Life and Montreal-based Manavoid Entertainment’s Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan.

See below for the full list:

  • Eastward (Cloud, Console and PC) — December 1st
  • The Walking Dead: The Final Season (Cloud, Console and PC) — December 1st
  • Totally Reliable Delivery Service (PC) — December 1st
  • Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Cloud, Console and PC) — December 6th
  • Hello Neighbor 2 (Cloud, Console and PC) — December 6th
  • Chained Echoes (Cloud, Console and PC) — December 8th
  • Metal: Hellsinger (Xbox One) — December 8th (already on Game Pass for Xbox Series X/S, Cloud and PC)
  • High On Life (Cloud, Console and PC) — December 13th
  • Potion Craft (Console and PC) — December 13th
  • Hot Wheels Unleashed – Game of the Year Edition (Cloud, Console and PC) — December 15th
  • Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan (Cloud, Console and PC) — December 15th

Additionally, here’s what’s leaving Game Pass on December 15th:

  • Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Breathedge (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Firewatch (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Lake (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Neoverse (Cloud and Console)
  • One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Race with Ryan (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (Cloud, Console and PC)
  • Rory McIlroy PGA Tour (Console) — EA Play
  • Transformers: Battlegrounds (Cloud, Console, and PC)

As always, Game Pass subscribers can take advantage of an exclusive 20 percent discount to purchase any game on the service and keep playing even after it leaves the catalogue.

Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass for PC each cost $11.99 CAD/month, while Game Pass Ultimate, which includes both versions of Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming, EA Play and Xbox Live Gold, is priced at $16.99/month.

Find out what came to Game Pass last month here.

Image credit: Warner Bros.

Source: Xbox

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Microsoft’s custom Xbox Elite Series 2 hasn’t broken on me yet

If you follow me on Twitter or have read my MobileSyrup coverage, you’ll be aware that even though I’m a fan of Microsoft’s Xbox Elite Series 2 gamepad, I also hate the controller with a passion.

The gamepad feels incredible and is heavily customizable; overall, it’s one of the best controllers I’ve ever used. But unfortunately, its hardware is nearly always faulty directly out of the box. Thankfully, Microsoft’s new custom Design Lab Elite Series 2 gamepad seems to solve most of these issues (or maybe I just finally got lucky).

Read this story for a full recap of my experience, but I’ve been through roughly seven to eight of the old Series 2 controllers. Sometimes the gamepad’s shoulder buttons or the Y button fail, or occasionally, the face buttons just don’t work. In one case, the left joystick stopped clicking. It’s always a different problem, but with every standard Elite Series 2 I’ve used, there’s an issue out of the box as soon as I start gaming with it.

No, I’m not buying a new controller every time and have mostly gotten the gamepad replaced under warranty, but this is still unacceptable given its $229 cost.

Here’s where the new custom Xbox Elite Series 2 gamepad comes in. I’ve been using the Custom Elite Series 2 gamepad since early November, and so far, my experience has been flawless. The face buttons continue to work, and the Y button remains responsive. I’ve probably used the controller for roughly 20-30 hours of sweaty Halo Infinite ranked action, and everything has been smooth.

It’s unclear if Microsoft’s parts supplier or manufacturing process has changed with the Design Lab Elite Series 2. However, if my gamepad is an accurate indication, it seems the tech giant may have solved the controller’s issues — at least as far as the custom version is concerned (it’s also really cool to be able to fully customize the Series 2gamepad).

I’m not sure if Microsoft’s Series 2 Core gamepad also fixes the high-end gamepad’s issues, but if this video is an accurate indication, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

The Design Lab Elite Series 2 starts at $149.99 for the base controller that doesn’t include paddles or additional thumbsticks. The version that offers all of the accessories (which is probably the one you want because that’s the point of the gamepad) starts at $209.99.

I’ll update this story if I start to run into issues with the Elite Series 2. Do you own a custom Elite Series 2, and have you run into any issues with the gamepad? Let me us know in the comments below or tweet me @Patrick_ORourke.