In a world where pixels and polygons collide to create magic, we present to you our handpicked selection of the top 10 most anticipated video games of 2024. From cutting-edge graphics to immersive gameplay, join us as we unravel the veil of the future and unveil the game development wonders that await. Are you ready to dive into the next level of excitement? Read our infographic below!

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1. Frame Rate Drops  

One of the most common video game bugs that can make a game feel unplayable is a sudden reduction in frame rate. This can be caused by various factors, such as hardware constraints, inadequate memory, or out-of-date drivers. To prevent frame rate drops, it’s important to ensure that your game is operating on a device that satisfies the minimal requirements. Before playing, it’s also a good idea to compare the system requirements for the game to the specifications of your device. By doing so, you can avoid frustrating frame rate drops and enjoy your gaming experience without interruptions.  

2. Save File Corruption  

Save file corruption is a common issue that can occur with video games, typically caused by hardware or software problems. Losing hours or even days of progress due to a corrupt save file can be disheartening. To prevent this from happening, it’s crucial to frequently back up your game files, either manually or through the game’s built-in save system. You can also manually copy the saved file to a different storage location. It’s important to use a reliable storage device, such as a hard drive or flash drive, to ensure the safety of your game files. By taking these steps, you can avoid losing your progress and continue to enjoy your gaming experience with peace of mind. 

3. Slow or Laggy Gameplay  

Sluggish gameplay is a frustrating issue that can result from a variety of problems, including hardware restrictions, software faults, or overheating. When a game slows down, it can make the gameplay feel choppy and unresponsive, which can be annoying for gamers. Overheating is a common factor in sluggish gaming, so it’s important to ensure that your console or PC has adequate ventilation. You should also make sure that the device’s cooling system, including fans and vents, is clean and functioning correctly. Keeping the device in a cool, well-ventilated place can also help prevent overheating. Another technique to prevent sluggish gaming is to make sure that your device satisfies the minimal requirements for the game. By taking these steps, you can avoid sluggish gameplay and enjoy your gaming experience with smooth and responsive gameplay. 

4. Audio Glitch  

The audio issue is one of the most frustrating game bugs that can ruin your gaming experience. An audio glitch can take many different forms, such as missing sound effects, distorted or crackling audio, or utter silence. Many factors can cause these issues, including hardware failures, faulty game files, and compatibility issues with your system or peripheral devices. To prevent audio bugs, it’s crucial to check that your system and game settings are set up properly. This includes making sure that your audio drivers are up-to-date and that the game’s audio settings are compatible with your hardware. By taking these steps, you can avoid audio issues and fully immerse yourself in your gaming experience with high-quality sound. 

5. Glitches in Missions  

A common video game bug in open-world games is when a task or mission doesn’t go as intended, preventing you from progressing through the game. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a conflict with another game element, a problem in the game’s coding, or a corrupted save file. To prevent getting trapped in quests or missions, try resuming the task or loading an earlier save file. This can help the game to restart and fix the bug. It’s also important to make sure that your game is properly updated with the most recent patches and updates, as these often include fixes for common glitches and issues. By taking these steps, you can avoid getting stuck in your game and continue to progress smoothly through the game’s story and tasks. 

6. Issues with Multiplayer Connectivity  

Playing with friends in multiplayer games can be challenging due to network problems such as lost connections and disconnections, as well as lag and latency. To prevent these issues, it’s important to ensure that your internet connection is stable and that your device’s network settings are set up correctly. This includes making sure that the network settings on your device are optimized for gaming and that you have a reliable internet connection. 

To achieve this, you can enable any firewalls that may be blocking the game’s traffic, unlock the required ports on your router, or upgrade your internet connection to a faster speed. Taking these steps can help ensure that your multiplayer gaming experience is smooth and uninterrupted, allowing you to enjoy the game with your friends without any network-related issues getting in the way. 

7. Crashes  

In-game crashes are one of the most frustrating glitches that can occur while gaming, causing players to lose progress and potentially even corrupt their save files. To avoid in-game crashes, it’s essential to ensure that your game is up-to-date and that your console or computer is running the latest software. 

Keeping your game up-to-date and checking for available software updates for your device can help prevent crashes from occurring. Additionally, it’s a good idea to regularly save your progress so that if a crash does occur, you won’t lose too much progress. By taking these steps, you can minimize the chances of experiencing an in-game crash and enjoy a smoother gaming experience. 

8. Glitches in Graphics 

One of the most common video game glitches is when the game’s graphics don’t render properly, resulting in distorted or missing textures, flickering, or other visual anomalies. 

To avoid graphical glitches, make sure your graphics card and drivers are up-to-date and that your device meets the game’s minimum requirements. You may also want to try adjusting the game’s graphics settings to see if that resolves the issue. 

9. Slow Loading Time  

Slow loading times can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to start playing your game. To avoid this, try clearing your device’s cache or restarting your console or computer. You may also want to consider upgrading your device’s storage or using an external hard drive, as games with large file sizes can take longer to load on devices with limited storage. 

Additionally, make sure that your internet connection is stable, as slow download speeds can also contribute to slow loading times. Google Forms may not be a tool for making video games, but it’s a great and free way to get feedback from your audience and learn what they think of your game. 

Final Thoughts  

Bugs in video games can be quite annoying for players. However, it takes knowledge and preparation to avoid most of these problems. You can reduce the possibility of running into bugs and improve your gaming experience by keeping your game and system up to date, adhering to recommended practices for game saves and downloads, and being aware of warning indications. Additionally, staying informed about the most common video game glitches and bugs can help you identify potential issues before they become major problems. By taking these steps, you can minimize the frustration of dealing with glitches and bugs and focus on enjoying your favorite video games to the fullest. 

The post The Most Common Video Game Glitches and Bugs, and How to Avoid Them appeared first on iXie Gaming.

Something Unique

Released at the tail end of the Genesis lifecycle, Comix Zone was a game unlike any at the time. This was a 2D beat em’ up that has the pages of a comic book as its setting. This made for a distinct art style for sure, but it is in the way the game makes use of the comic book aesthetics in other aspects like story and combat that makes it so special.

Story

This game’s story is as tongue-in-cheek as a 90s game can get. You play a down on his luck comic book artist in New York who gets warped into his own comic book one day, while the villain you designed warps out into the real world and pulls the string in the comic book world by sketching his minions to take you down.

This being your comic book, you are aware of what is at stake and take it upon yourself to save the (comic book) world, with the help of the Heroine, whom you created for the book. It is a great setting, one that cannot be taken seriously if you tried. And the game is fully aware of it. This self-aware approach also chips in for the various locales that the story takes you to. 

Gameplay

Comix Zone makes the most of its comic book aesthetics in its gameplay. What would be tiny arenas with invisible walls in other games of the genre, is now visually indicated through comic book panels. You enter a panel and move to the next one only after you have cleared the bad guys or solved the puzzle or sometimes both. The combat was simple, but never boring due to this. Smart ideas like bashing your opponent towards the panel which acts as a wall and has the enemy trapped go a long way in providing depth to the otherwise shallow combat.

Puzzles form a sizeable part of the game play, and while these are not the most complex, they are smart and blend well into the game’s world quiet well. One of the things that will help you with most puzzles is your companion Roadkill the rat.

Although he takes up a whole slot in your limited three slot inventory, Roadkill is a resourceful ally whom you will start caring for as you progress through the game. He can easily reach levers and buttons that are out of reach, and also find hidden items like grenades and knives by sniffing them out within the comic book walls, which come in handy during combat.

Its Own Quirks

Comix Zone is a labour of love and that shows in the amount of thought put into the game’s aesthetics. Little details like bits of paper flying off the panel during combat and fragments of the page being ripped when Roadkill looks for hidden Items, and the way the protagonist always jumps through each panel instead of just walking through them all go a long way to sell the games setting to the player.

The creators have made some of the best looking 16-bit visuals for this game, that convey a sense of environment, right from the wasteland style New York to the snowy Himalayas. 16-bit graphics are as good as they came with Comix Zone. 

And then there is that screen at the end of each level, that teases the creation of a Superhero as you progress through the levels. This may have been planned for the next game as it does open up for a sequel, despite the “good guys saves the world and gets the girl” ending. Sadly, a sequel never came to be, and we will never know.

And that was Comix Zone. Yet another beat em’up in the then saturated genre, but one that stood out from the rest thanks to its setting and the love and attention that went in to making it. This game has since seen release in other platforms, and definitely deserves some love. If you ever come across this game for any of the console or handheld you may own, and are looking for some cheesy 90s videogame action, please give this a try. You will not regret it.

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Story

The game has you take the role of Cal Kestis during the aftermath of Order 66, which saw the Jedi order all but annihilated. Cal has been in the hiding, until a certain event has him being pursued by the empire. This sets in motion, a grand adventure that has you hopping planets in the hopes of reforming the Jedi order to bring the empire down for good. It’s the quintessential Star Wars tale that one would except from a production of this scale. Only tweaked to good measure to fit the videogame format. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the fifteen or so hour journey and the game manages to keep the story from being too predictable or getting stale. Much of this is attributed to the characters that are part of Cal’s journey. Cal himself transforms from a run of the mill good guy figure to a character that you would care for as you progress through the game. But the supporting cast steal the show consistently during cutscenes. Even the game’s main antagonist is a surprisingly layered character.

While Cal isn’t disposing storm troopers and hunting for ancient runes, he spends most of the time with his crew mate Cere Junda who brings some unexpected depth in her character which helps move the story forward in meaningful ways. Fellow crew mate Greez Dritus brings some comic relief to the mostly sombre story. But it is BD-1 that steals the show for me. Perhaps, the cutest droid ever in the Star Wars universe, BD-1 is your trustee companion through the bulk of your playtime. He will help you slide and propel you through ziplines, throw in health stims when you need it, jump off your shoulder to highlight points of interest while you roam the various planets, just to name a few.

Much of the gameplay mechanics are given contextual significance like this which makes the story feel more authentic. For example, every time Cal acquires a new skill, the game flashes back to a younger Cal when he was being trained as a Jedi and was learning said skill. This not only serves as a quick tutorial but also adds merit to the idea that he is slowly becoming the Jedi that his master trained him to be. Speaking of being a Jedi let’s move on to….

Gameplay, Graphics and Sound

Developers Respawn had just over two years to put this game together. Which was probably why the amicable choice of borrowing various elements from various popular games was made. Honestly, this is both a boon and a curse for the game. There is the traversal element from the Uncharted and Tomb Raider series, Parry heavy Lightsabre combat design and meditation/save points borrowed from the Souls series and Sekiro, brilliantly layered map design reminiscent of a Metroidvania game with sound effects and music that feel authentic and true to the Star Wars series. It is all there and put together in a way that everything works in harmony while being contextually relevant to the Star Wars lore. This is truly commendable. And when it all works as intended, the result is a blast to play through.

But, it does not ‘always’ work the way it should. The game is riddled with bugs and glitches that very often take you away from the experience. The blemishes are very visible. Combat may feel cumbersome at times, leaps and jumps from ledges go off target a lot of times, wall running leads to glitching in some areas. And of course, these inconsistencies carryover to the graphics department too. Textures loadout inconsistently, Cal sometimes hangs on from an invisible ledge in the air and various other graphical hiccups. Perhaps, the most blatant proof of all this is the stark contrast between how rich the game looks during the first couple of hours and how it looks once and after you travel to the first planet. The difference is night and day. The flashback segments in particular with younger Cal looks like they are from the PS3/X360 era.

I am sure that the developers intended the whole game to look as good as the initial hour. But had to give in to EA’s demand to meet quarterly targets. Which is what saddens me the most. This game could have been so much better with six months of additional development time.

All the glitches and bugs could have been fixed. The gameplay would have been snappier. And the game would have looked as good as the E3 demo EA showcased for the game, which is all it takes to be an amazing game rather than just a good game. But we now have Jedi: Fallen order, and it still is a solid experience if you excuse the little annoyances.

Verdict

There was clearly more time needed to finish this game and considering what Respawn have managed to deliver with the time and resources they had, it is simply put impressive. The aesthetics and sound fit right into the Star Wars universe. Pretty much every aspect of the gameplay is tied into the story in meaningful ways. And the story is compelling enough to fit in to the ranks of the ones told in other forms of art. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen order may not be perfect. But it avoids being a Frankenstein’s monster thanks to the talented team behind it. What we have here is an adventure game that is well worth your time and money. A game that is easy recommendable to anyone who is interested in story driven action games. If you are one of them, Jedi: Fallen order is a must play.

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No. 1 Anthem

By the time Anthem was released the writings were already on the wall for many people. Bioware was on the receiving end of having released a game that was gorgeous to look at, and fun to play for a while but not a lot more than that. The developer had to follow up on the PR disaster that was Mass Effect Andromeda which was a decent game but got way too much negativity for relatively apparent bugs which were blown out of proportion by streamers and social media (In all fairness these bugs should have been fixed before its release anyway. But weren’t). And yet Bioware found themselves in almost every major pitfall that could affect the development of the game in a negative way with Anthem. From the studios, top executives leaving the company during development, to multiple delays, to having to make a game in an unexplored genre for the studio, they went through it all.

And the end result was a mess of a game which did not do the players or the developers any justice. Despite having seen this coming, many people (me included) still had hopes for the game since it came from Bioware. The once-revered masters of compelling stories. And perhaps, it was that hope that made Anthem even more disappointing. Anthem just ended being another victim of EA’s questionable practices, falling in line with games like Star Wars Battlefront 2. And that is a very sad thing.

No.2 Rage 2

Rage 2 was not a bad game. But it was not great in any way either. And that was the problem with it. The original Rage which was released back in 2011 had its issues but it still measured up to be a competent shooter with some tight gameplay for its time. Rage 2 feels like an improvement on all fronts, but something that should have been released as an immediate follow up a couple of years later.

Almost all of its gameplay elements and mechanics feel dated and not like something that one would expect in a major release in 2019. For some reason, Rage 2’s world and gunplay felt like the same bland experience like in Avalanche Studios’ other recent games, Just Cause 3 and 4, despite having collaborated with ID. I for one had high hopes for Rage 2 and the trailers were super fun to watch. Unfortunately, all of it did not translate well into the final product.

No. 3 Crackdown 3

Oh, Crackdown 3! Talk about a tumultuous journey. Crackdown 3 was originally announced way back in 2014 and was set out to be an Xbox One exclusive. The game was meant to entice gamers by demonstrating its use of the cloud to process the amount of memory needed for its elaborate world destructions. And it was quite intriguing at the time.

Fast forward to 2019 and what was supposed to be a 2016 release had now been through multiple delays and reworks, and the result was the hot mess that could not deliver to the hype at launch. The much-touted about destruction was missing from the single-player campaign at launch and the multiplayer component which was released a little later which did deliver on the destruction part of the bargain was not much fun to play. Despite Terry Crews’ appeal and Microsoft’s aggressive marketing, the game was a massive disappointment.

No. 4 Days Gone

For some reason, Days Gone could not resonate with the PlayStation fans right from the get-go when it was revealed back in E3 2016. Sony’s E3 2016 in itself was a spectacular event and Days Gone was supposed cap the showoff. This shows how important the game was in Sony’s eyes. But Day’s Gone ended up being one of the more forgettable games largely due to the rest of the show is so great and through no fault of its own. Three years, and a few delays later this Open World Zombie game released to a market which was already saturated with Zombies and Open World games.

Days Gone was in no ways a bad game. The game, in fact, was reviewed quite well by a few outlets. But it did not quite meet the standards of a first-party Sony exclusive, at least at launch. And that was disappointing to many. In a way Days Gone ended up being a momentum killer to Sony’s hot streak of high-quality exclusives.

No. 5 Left Alive

Left Alive did not generate as much buzz as the other games in the list. But this Metal Gear inspired game did turn some heads when it was revealed.

And what was expected to be a love letter to the Metal Gear franchise turned out to a be a complete mess of a game with terrible voice acting, inconsistent AI and outdated graphics regardless of platform. The 3 playable characters in the game were forgettable at best, thanks to poor writing and an unremarkable story.

The game also failed in the gameplay front with messy stealth mechanics and subpar combat. This is never good news for a stealth-based action game. Throw in wonky controls and framerate issues and you are left alive and disappointed with, well, Left Alive.

The post 5 Games that disappointed in the First Half of 2019 appeared first on iXie Gaming.

No.1 Resident Evil 2 Remake

Easily one of the best survival horror games out there, this year’s Resident Evil 2 is more than just a remake of a classic. Being a re-telling of one of the best games of its generation and the fact that it was coming hot off heels of the equally excellent RE 7, Resident Evil 2 had a lot to live up to. Capcom not only lived up to the lofty expectation of fans but exceeded them by a large degree.

With stunning visuals which only made all the gore that much more disturbing, and a shift in style to third person with RE 4 style over the shoulder perspective, and the decision to stay faithful to some of the story beats from the original, RE2 Remake was a triumph through and through. It was a great way to start the year.

No.2 Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus is one of those rare games that goes out of its way to distinguish itself from the games it follows. While Metro 2033, and Last Light’s dark tunnels and tight corridors with the occasional outdoor sections were effective in inducing fear, tension and claustrophobia, Exodus somehow keeps all of those qualities and improves upon all of them while the game itself evolves in to an expansive, quasi open sandbox like structure. The deep customization options, gorgeous graphics, excellent world building and fantastic sound design all contribute towards an experience that gratifyingly supersedes the first two games.

Undoubtedly the best in the series, this game could have easily followed upon the footsteps of the first two games and would have still faired well. But developers 4A games did not stick to the “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” route and have delivered something far more special. Typically, one would be saturated by a franchise by the end of the third game, especially in the FPS genre. But Exodus left me wanting more, and in the best way possible.

No.3 Devil May Cry 5

Capcom strikes again by delivering one of the most fun games of the year yet. Devil May Cry 5 is everything a DMC (original numbered series) fan was hoping for and so much more. The game is equal style and substance, something that is very rare to come by in modern games. The game’s three playable characters offer enough variety to keep the game fresh and interesting throughout the its runtime, and the ever-present style ranking system only pushes the player to try again and perform better.

Whether you are familiar with the previous DMC games or not, DMC 5 is an undeniable thrill ride from start to finish. Easily one of, if not, THE best Third Person hack and slash action games, this is a must play for anyone who even remotely likes video games. The shenanigans on screen are totally worth anybody’s time.

No.4 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

From Software’s latest is also their best work yet. With Sekiro, From Software delivered something that not only checked all the boxes that you would expect from a game from that studio, but also managed to keep the formula fresh and exciting. The emphasis on stealth definitely works in the game’s favour by keeping the tension alive, and the posture-based sword play is as punishing and deep as you would expect from a From Software game.

The game also looks great with its refreshing use of colours rather than the studio’s signature 150 shades of grey. Sinking dozens of hours learning your opponent and mastering your own moves and delivering that final blow after a handful of deaths is just as satisfying as ever if not better somehow. Sekiro demands patience and skill, and is an experience unlike any other for the ones willing to invest in it. This is easily one of this year’s Game of the Year contender.

No. 5 Apex Legends

Well, who saw this coming? EA and Respawn just did the impossible with Apex Legends. Not only did they manage to keep a high-profile Battle Royale game under wraps until it’s reveal, but they also managed to make Battle Royale genuinely fun, and more importantly made a BR sceptic like me warm up to the genre. Apex Legends blended overwatch style heroes with squad based tactical multiplayer thrown into refined first-person action with emphasis on mobility. It’s robust ping system meant that you could play it without a mic and oh so refreshingly avoid all gibberish that people talk during online matches.

With frequent updates and new heroes to unlock each season the game does do a god job at keeping things fresh (Here’s hoping a new map is introduced in the next season). Apex Legends is a game that should not exist, given its roots and the choice of its genre. But I am so glad that it does, and it made 2019 all the more better.

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Watchdogs: Legion

Unquestionably the best part and the saving grace of this year’s Ubisoft conference, Watch Dogs: Legion is one of the most ambitious third-person action game ever revealed. Set in London, the game looks more gorgeous than ever before (we’ll have to see what the release build looks like though *cough cough* Ubisoft downgrades *cough*). And aside from the usual hacking and manipulating, at the core of its gameplay is the ability to recruit any NPC who isn’t with the bad guys.

This opens up a world of possibilities and an endless amount of replay value. Here’s hoping they manage to pull off the procedurally generated story missions for the NPC’s we recruit. If they do, we may have something very special in our hands. And kudos to Ubisoft for still believing in the franchise despite lacklustre sales from Watch Dogs 2.

Fall Guys

Who knew that we’ll be discussing a Battle Royale game on a positive note in an E3 article? Yet here we are. Devolver Digital has made some waves in the industry with its unique approach towards E3 conferences. This outlook also seems reminiscent in the games they publish. Small but fun games that hit the right note. Look no further than My Friend Pedro for example. The same can be said about Fall Guys.

A Battle Royale game which isn’t a shooter, but a goofy game show like take on the genre with various obstacle courses. Of course, the game’s fun factor will depend on how good or bad and varied these obstacle courses are, but it is refreshing to see someone take a different approach towards an honestly stale genre. Here’s hoping the developers nail this one and help create more fresh ideas among other BR developers.

Star Wars – Jedi: Fallen order

To be honest, I was slightly disappointed by Jedi: Fallen Order. It was still the story-driven third-person Star Wars action game that I had always wanted, but what was shown during EA play did not really blow my mind. Perhaps, that was due to me being overhyped in my head and I expected too much at the time. In retrospect though, Jedi: Fallen Order does look like a solid game that will please Star Wars fans or fans of third-person action games in general.

With God of War 3 director, Stig Asmussen at the helm, made by Respawn who delivered the excellent but underappreciated gem that was Titanfall 2, the talent behind the scenes do show some great promise. A good story-driven Star Wars game is long overdue, and Stig and his team at Respawn may deliver just that at the tail end of 2019. Here’s hoping.

Legends of Zelda: Breath of the wild 2

One of the best games of 2017, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was almost solely responsible for the initial sales of the Nintendo Switch. So, it was a no brainer that another big Zelda game will be in the works. But, I did not (probably nobody did) see a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild being revealed just two years after the release of the first game.

Especially considering how long the first one was in development. This announcement only made an already great Nintendo showcase that much better. The truth though, is that we just can’t get enough from the Zelda franchise. So, keep ‘em coming Nintendo.

Cyberpunk 2077

Boy, Oh Boy. Did CD Project Red deliver? Cyberpunk 2077 showed no gameplay to the public at E3, yet they stole the show thanks to the reveal of Johnny Silverhand played by none other than Keanu friggin Reeves. In, arguably the best moment of this year’s event, Keanu graced the stage to explain his role in the game.

Despite all of this though, Cyberpunk 2077 makes this list purely based on the pedigree of its developer and what was shown back when the game was originally revealed. The world knows that this game is something very special and that’s reason enough to make this list even though it wasn’t technically revealed at this years E3.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Final Fantasy VII Remake was game I least looked forward to this year. Originally revealed in E3 2015, there was nothing that could build the hype for this game aside from the fact that it was the remake of one of the best RPGs ever made. And with the idea of a remake, also comes the fear of messing up something that was perfect, to begin with. Add to that a complete lack of any gameplay reveals save for a few screenshots through the next four years and the anticipation towards the game, at least in my head, was as good as the idea of watching paint dry on a Saturday night.

But, all of my scepticism was blown to smithereens when the gameplay was finally revealed to the world. This, in my opinion, felt like the most RPGish game of all RPGs, while also incorporating third-person hack and slash to some degree. This mish-mash of genres sounds horrible on paper, but the developers went for it and the result is just glorious. Never have I made such a 180 on my opinion towards a game and never have I ever wanted to play a game so badly. The game looks stunning, which is amazing for the number of hours of play it is set to offer. And characters obviously look better than ever. If this were a whole other game on its own and not be a remake of FF VII, I could see myself still being just as excited for it. And that is telling something.

Ghostwire Tokyo

The best part of the Bethesda conference was the reveal of Ghostwire Tokyo. Tango Gameworks’ next project had one of the best reveals made possible by none other than the game’s creative director Ikumi Nakamura. She showed genuine passion towards her game and her enthusiasm was contagious. This followed by a truly remarkable trailer only built the hype even further.

I just wish they had shown some glimpses of gameplay though. However, if Evil Within 2 was any indication, we can safely expect a spooky and gratifying horror experience when this game releases

Honourable Mentions

Needless to say, there were other games that were also awesome but just could not make the cut to this list. They are.

Doom Eternal – For as great as this game looked and played, this was not a reveal and we had seen its gameplay before.

Avengers – Like Jedi: Fallen Order, my anticipation for this game was through the roof. So, it was disappointing to see little to no gameplay during the reveal. And I am still clueless as to what type of game this is going to be.

Halo Infinite – Despite having an awesome trailer, Halo Infinite did not show us any gameplay and whatever new it brings to the table is still a mystery. Also, this was revealed in E3 2018.

The post Top Games of E3 2019 appeared first on iXie Gaming.

First Things First

I need to begin by stating the obvious here that this game not for everyone. And that statements applies to multiple aspects of the game like its target demographic which are adults only, to the offbeat brand of humour (which is not as sharp as the show) that you would either love or hate, to the structure of the game and its mechanics which have been executed keeping in mind that this is best experienced on Virtual Reality, therefore foregoing what one would consider a traditional control scheme and gameplay mechanics. And this also applies to one of the games most ridiculous aspects which are its…..

Story

If you know about Rick and Morty and if that was what drew you towards this game, then you would know what to expect in terms of story. And it would be best to be in the right mindset while you’re launching the game. The plot revolves around Trover whose dogs have been stolen by an evil alien who gains God-like powers by placing those dogs in his empty eye sockets. Yes, you read that right.

Joining Trover in his quest to retrieve his dogs and save the universe in the process is you the player, a ‘chairorpian’ who always sits on his chair/couch, which is this games version of a mute protagonist who does others’ chores. Needless to say, the setting is less James Bond and more Austin Powers, and the game does tend to make the most of it, most of the times. The game is so self-aware that it constantly pokes fun at its own story and that this is a video game. And the events that occur in the game range from the mundane to downright ridiculous. One moment you are collecting a ‘hidden’ collectible which is placed right in front of you, and the other you just realise that you played through a whole planet to obtain a crystal which a character removes from his butt, only to find something even more shocking shortly after.

There is so much potty mouthed humour here to keep you giggling throughout the course of the game if you are into such things. Not all the jokes and gags land though. Some characters who are funny in the first few minutes just go on and on to the point that they get really annoying. And if you have a small threshold for such things this could really get in the way of you having fun with this game. That said, the game’s brand of dark comedy will keep most of the players pleased.

Gameplay

Throughout the story, you will be visiting various planets which look and feel distinct keeping the game fresh. And you the chairorpian will be controlling both your self and Trover with a cleverly implemented control scheme that only needs a little getting used to. Abilities for both are acquired at a steady pace throughout the game although nothing very special is on offer. But what is offered does make up for a good set of tools towards the often-well-done platforming sections, combat and puzzles. Combat starts out quite basic, but gradually gains some depth thanks to a clever blend of combat moves from Trover and your abilities, like pulling or throwing stuff.

As a chairorpian, your abilities are limited though, and you can only be mobile by warping through certain points in each map. However, this does not come in the way of the gameplay and is well executed for the most part. You also acquire the ability to hover your chair to different heights which provides 3 distinct perspectives that help in navigating Trover, puzzle solving and combat.

The aforementioned collectables are sometimes very on-the-nose, but also cleverly hidden in a lot of cases pushing you to explore if you are a completionist. There is not much in the way of challenge through combat or puzzles though, save for a few instances, and the game does feel like it is being the jack of all trades trying to mix all the elements together. The push and pull ability, in particular, felt a bit too clunky which sometimes resulted in frustrating moments. That said the system as a whole work for the most part and you will feel at home with the controls within an hour into the game.

Graphics and Sound

The distinct art style of Rick and Morty transitions well into 3D. And while not the most beautiful game out there, the game does look great.

Needless to say, the best way to experience this game would be through VR, but it is also playable in non-VR mode. The good thing though is that somehow the trade-off does not seem all that bad in non-VR mode. The game’s mechanics complement both modes just as well. In terms of sound, I would have preferred a button to shut some NPCs’ mouths. Other than that, the game does a good job overall.

Overall

Trover saves the universe is not for everyone. The game is a short and often times not so challenging experience. That said, what is on offer makes up for a decent action platformer to sit through on a rainy afternoon that does not push your skills to the limits. However, if you love the kind of potty-mouthed dark humour from Rick and Morty and have invested in a VR headset, this is a must play.

Verdict

8/10

The post Trover Saves the Universe – Review appeared first on iXie Gaming.

The birth of ‘AAA’ Games.

To understand this better we need to look at what does a AAA game mean and go to its roots. Back in the PS1/PS2 days, videogames were just video games. Regardless of the length of the game, or the scope of it or how cinematic or silly it looked, they were just games sold on discs. This meant that Parappa the rapper would be looked at the same way as say, Shadow of the Colossus (PS2). Granted they are completely different games in terms of genre, scope and almost everything else, but they were still games. Nothing distinguished them based on their status. But put out two games of similar scope and scale today and one will be AAA production, possible only made by a large studio. So how did this begin? The answer lies within the 7th generation of consoles, where the industry shifted from SD to HD, thus embracing new standards in quality and gameplay in games. This also meant a huge increase in the cost of production for these games. Unfortunately, this eventually led to the end of most mid-tier studios and publishers who had had 2 or more games that had failed in this generation. And the ones who survived keep making big budget games today. Also, during this transition was the rise of indie games. The kind of games made by teams of a few people who felt fresh took a lot of creative risks and resonated with the audience. So, this helped draw a line between the two sides of the industry and term AAA gaming started been thrown in more than ever for the ones made by the big studios.

Why are they ‘Dying’?

Naturally, big budget means big risks and it also meant that most companies that put these games out have investors to answer for. This meant that the AAA companies had very little room for error and had to come with creative ways to keep their companies afloat. Too many studios who stuck to the traditional way of making and selling games had to shut their doors during the PS3/360 era. Enter the idea of DLC. Thanks to the capabilities of the 7th gen consoles and the internet infrastructure at the time, studios could now release optional post-launch content for the users to buy. We all know the rest though. This evolved into micro-transactions which evolved into loot boxes, which of course resulted in some very nasty controversies. Even games as recent as Mortal Kombat 11, a game in which you can feel the amount of love and care put into making it, has fallen prey to such practices. Perhaps this, more than anything, is what has led people to believe that these sorts of games are dying. That the risk is too high for companies and the interest for these game within the audience is fading, and this becomes a tough proposition in order to maintain sustainability and keep the companies afloat. And both statements are true to some degree. And if we look at the situation from that perspective, the future does look bleak.

The future of AAA games is bright

The ups and downs that followed big budget games throughout 7th and 8th generation of consoles is mind-boggling and is something for the history books. But if corporations are good at one thing, they are at taking notes. Although not many may change their practices, some of them are looking at ways in which games are not affected by design to accommodate microtransactions and loot boxes. To see a game like Borderlands 3, a game which can be perfect to make a boatload of money using micro-transactions, be announced with the quotes “There will be no micro-transaction or loot boxes” is very encouraging. Then there are companies like Sony, who have excelled in creating amazing big budget games and making that a successful business model, while steering clear from what is considered questionable business practices. There is no doubt that Sony is only going to double down on these games for their next console. This then points towards Microsoft who have had quite the lesson on the importance of good games and have invested heavily in creating multiple teams of talented individuals who will all be working on exclusive games for the next Xbox. Not to forget the new players like Google and Amazon’s inevitable entry into the market. All of these companies, at least Google out of the two, for now, are investing in studios to make games for their platforms. And the focus for all companies is to put out better games than their competitors.

Above all, us gamers do love our big budget games when they are done right and do not try to nickel and dime us. All of this only points to a better future for AAA games. And it will be exciting to see where the industry is headed in the next generation. Here’s hoping that it’s in the right direction.

The post The State of AAA Games during an Industry Evolution appeared first on iXie Gaming.