@LiamCroft what a silly bit of self righteous pearl clutching. The poster didn't say anyone deserved to lose their jobs. 343 has mishandled the Halo franchise for a long time now. We can have differences if opinions without resorting to attitudes to like that.

@Mr-Cage you'll get different answers to that one, definitely! The 1st is absolutely worth playing and does indeed have a next gen upgrade. The 2nd is a considerably better game mechanically. In my opinion.

You can't really go wrong to be honest, but I don't think I'll ever play the 1st game again, while I will absolutely play the 2nd one again. Make of that what you will!

@Mr-Cage it isn't as difficult as its reputation suggests. I would describe it more as 'immersive'. How would you cope if you were dropped naked, penniless and unarmed into a potentially dangerous medieval world? The early encounters with bandits in the countryside go EXACTLY as they should in those circumstances (as in, you'll die). So you'll learn to avoid them, and if you can't, you'll leg it towards the nearest village where a guard will have your back.

I had the same worries as you and I am SO glad I gave it a go. The first 10-15 hours of that game are amongst the most satisfying I have ever experienced in my 35 years of gaming. The early loop of finding shelter, food, money, armour, weapons and resources is to some extent a test of perseverance but it's absolutely worth it. I've loved every second, and it's (for me, at least) considerably less frustrating than something like Dark Souls.

For what it's worth, I'm 70 hours in and despite having good armour and weapons I still find myself getting my backside tanned on occasion from a couple of lowly bandits. But you don't play the Dragonborn, Geralt, Jamie Lannister or Aragorn so it's entirely fitting and all the better for it simply because of its uniqueness.

Henry is one of the great characters in gaming and it has as strong a supporting cast as gaming has ever produced. The story is also fantastic (watch a KCD1 recap before going in if you're starting with 2).

Just go for it. Gaming doesn't get much better.

@Weebleman give it a break then if you don't like it, instead of posting all over PureXbox then coming here for some more. Go play some video games instead of talking about them on the internet. You won't even know all this 'drama' exists.

@THEBrew why do people need to move on from a massively lauded, beloved game, that is considered one of the top few greatest of all time almost universally and provided hundreds and hundreds of hours of perfect escapism and entertainment to 10s of millions of people? All its longevity shows is that truly great art stands the test of time, as it always has.

Agree about Hogwarts Legacy though. There's so much they could have done with DLC with that game.

The original could be released today and would be an incredible looking, pixel perfect platformer. Played it on Vita and now have it on Switch as well. Really doesn't need to be remade.

Well I'm enjoying it. In fact, I'm going to go off and finish it now. Couldn't care less what social media says - it's almost always a noisy minority in these instances anyway. Some people should just spend a bit more time playing games and a bit less time moaning about them on the internet.

@McDosy "I enjoyed the cornball story. Anybody touched or moved needs to have themselves touched or moved more frequently, or risk atrophy."

I'm normally one for letting others have their opinions and moving on, but this annoyed me. What a dreadfully arrogant and supercilious attitude.

For context, a couple of years ago, my partner and I lost a child at 10 weeks old. 3 months later I lost my mother. Bad time. My reaction to that was to, basically, immediately go back to work, and stay there while pretending that my mind wasn't an absolute cluster****.

It was Expedition 33 and its themes of unresolved grief that inspired me to go to the doctor, who in turn put me in touch with professional help as it turned out that I wasn't, in fact, 'ok'.

The game will always have a very special place in my heart as it directly helped me to deal with very real, and very severe, grief.

Sorry if stories like that make you roll your eyes at the mawkishness of others but your ignorance is, in my opinion, a far greater ill than someone being moved by a videogame's story.

@Qozmyk and now they've got the gall (and Gamespot) to put the game in their list of best ever horror games (IGN has it at number 6!).

Though I think Wired's Hogwarts Legacy review may now be up there with it. Though that is so transparent and blatant about its lack of objectivity that it probably falls into a slightly different category.

@AlanWoke that's just not true. IGN and Gamespot are the only significant publications to give it middling scores. Every other major publication gave it 8 or 9. It's Metacritic rating reflects this, and the user rating is higher again. It also became more appreciated in the years after its release as it achieved a kind of cult status.

The completion rate statistic is probably pretty disingenuous on your part I'd imagine, as I'm sure you're well aware that the majority of games are have lower completion rates than you'd expect. GTA IV, RDR2 and Fallout New Vegas all hover around the 20% completion mark, as an example, and they are some of the most celebrated games of all time. The completion rate has very little bearing on a games quality, clearly. In fact, for what is quite a long, difficult and stressful game, that completion rate is probably exactly what one would expect to see.

The first one was less of a game, more of a 20 hour long test of perseverance! In the best possible way, of course. In fact, that is exactly like the first two films (obviously not 20 hours long there though). Something that stressful shouldn't be fun, but there you go.

Not sure I can face another one though.

What's up with the tone of these articles lately?! Completely different to articles on your sister sites at Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. Not sure how to put it, but the sarcastic, mean spirited tone comes across as very petty. If you're sick of the statements from Xbox, then why on earth keep reporting them? Or, alternatively, do report them and try to remain a little more professional.

But I guess if that is what the majority of your readers like....

😂 some of these comments are so staggeringly stereotypically toxic videogame fan stuff. Haven't seen anything of the show beyond a picture of the star and it (and the star herself) have been completely written off by some. It's pathetic.

Anyway, Sophie Turner was a bit wooden at times in GoT but have since watched her in Joan on ITV and she was excellent. Will definitely give this a chance.

Well I liked it. I put in about 80 hours which is my usual for these huge Bethesda games. For me, an 8/10. Agree with this review almost entirely - it has flaws but if you can find the parts of the game you enjoy them there is A LOT of great content here. Really is one that people should try for themselves - though admittedly I played on Gamepass where trying games out is easier.

@Almost_Ghostly played and finished both. Personally would choose this over Veilguard simply because Veilguard was just too long to sustain the relatively simple gameplay loop. Both better than their reputations would have you believe but not that comparable. There is basically no exploration in Veilguard - it's not far away from a 3rd person brawler with RPG elements. There's plenty of exploration in Avowed. Different types of game entirely.

Played it relatively recently on Xbox. It's a really good, fun game. Looks fantastic (the third, rocky desert region really does look great). Combat is excellent and the whole thing is fun to play. Everything is a streamlined version of what you might expect to find. Worth pointing out that it is chalk and cheese now compared to its release state. A much, much better game. It did take a while for it to click with me but when it did then I really was well into it.

Certainly a top 3 for me from last year.

I bounced off Avowed a year ago but I'm well into it now. It's a much more alive, vibrant and less sterile game than at launch. And it is, above all, just plain fun to play - which isn't something you can always say about that type of game. It also looks fantastic. Definitely worth a go for anyone who likes games like this.

Well I liked it. Put the best part of 100 hours into it and it wasn't glitchy for me. Ludicrous amounts of content, not all of it worth experiencing but more than enough that is for it to be worth the entry price. It's very much a Bethesda game. Looks like one, sounds like one, plays like one. I like Bethesda.

Classic case of 'try it for yourself'.

I'm going to say it - Lumines is the best 'tetris-like' series ever. Perfect gaming. Still play it on my Vita and it never gets boring.

On another note - some people need to stop being such melts and not take these lists so seriously. There is literally no possible way for this list to have any impact on your life whatsoever so seeing people take it so seriously and seemingly take offense from it is astonishing. Pure Xbox exactly the same. Very lucky people if you have room in your life to get worked up about this.

Not for me, but as someone further up has stated - choice is a good thing.

@KundaliniRising333 I'm going to say it - Nine Sols is a better game IMO. Really enjoying Silk Song - it builds a brilliant world with such a unique atmosphere. But Nine Sols is just better to play. And the adjustable difficulty is such a huge advantage for those who don't like the frustration that these games can undoubtedly deliver.

Both worth playing.

@Uromastryx 80 hours max? So, close to 100 hours then, isn't it?

You're all mental. As if Sony and Nintendo aren't also incredibly ruthless, hugely anti consumer multi billion dollar companies that would throw any one of you under the bus for a few extra dollars in the P/L column at the end of the year. Microsoft may indeed be the bad guys, and I'm sure as hell not defending them, but Sony certainly aren't the 'good guys'.

Worth pointing out that this article has got dozens on dozens of comments, as did all the articles about Microsoft lay offs and studio closures, and the news about Gamepass possibly not being profitable.

But, the news today that suggests that Gamepass is indeed profitable is nowhere to be seen. You're all being fed exactly what you want to see and read and lack the wit to realise you're being manipulated.

I'll leave you to your echo chamber.

@Lowdefal that post needed more than just full stops added in to save it.

@Nem some kind of 'classic collection' would be great. A few of the rarer ones in one package.

Loved my PSPGo. It was my first 'digital' console and I remember being blown away by the possibilities - a little bit of kit packed with games that you could fit in your pocket. Traded in for a Vita which I still have (and is also awesome).

@Jrs1 Split Second - what a game that was. Was on sale for a couple of quid on Xbox a few months back and is still a brilliant game. I'm not sure it sold brilliantly back in the day but would love to see it revisited. A new game with modern hardware would be spectacular.

@Kraven me too with Infinite. I remember finishing that game and going out for dinner with my partner and trying to explain the story to her as it has just blown my mind. Great game.

@Dimey honestly, horde mode is possibly my favourite multiplayer game ever. Such fond memories of playing that with my friends back in the day. Multiplayer gaming perfection.

@MrPeanutbutterz perhaps in your opinion, but certainly not the majority's opinion. If someone is in to this kind of game then it really is a great game.

I actually preferred 4 due to the setting but this is about as good as this type of racing game gets. If it's your bag then you shouldn't hesitate.

First game was really good so if this is better than that then it's an easy purchase. Will be available for next to nothing in a 12 month, however.

@MrPeanutbutterz well if it's, in your words, "toast" then it'll cease to exist in, what, 12 months? 18 maybe? Let's see then. It'll still be around. It's going nowhere.

Some of the relish in the replies here are baffling. I'm lucky enough to have all the platforms so the rabid fanboy nonsense you see in these comments doesn't really appeal to me but the way some of you are rubbing your hands with glee at the struggles of Microsoft this generation is pathetic. What on earth do you get from it?!

Just goes to show that the worst thing about this fantastic hobby is the people who partake in it. And why I so rarely use internet forums anymore. Just a waste of time talking to childish, biased fanboys.

@MrPeanutbutterz it hasn't 'imploded' at all.

First game was really good. Definitely not for everyone - slow paced and most certainly not 'AAA' levels of polish. But really enjoyable if it sunk its claws into you.

Looking forward to seeing what the next one can be with, I presume, a much bigger budget.

@Jrs1 I'm in the same boat - I like Ubisoft games in general. I'm subscribed to Ubisoft+ at the moment and enjoying playing through a few of their games. They aren't perfect obviously but there is absolutely an element of 'bandwagon jumping' in everyone constantly slagging them off.

Well I like it.

@nedbvai what a strangely spiteful attitude to have.

Current gen consoles look fantastic to me eyes. I simply don't feel l need an upgrade at this point in time. The price point seals it.

@DaniPooo don't start with the "if you can't afford it" nonsense. I've got £800 spare, the problem is that this is simply too expensive. If it's worth it to you, great. I hope you enjoy it. But your little comment there isn't on.

Think I might actually do a ubisoft plus sub for a few months. There's this, AC Shadows, Mirage, Prince of Persia and Avatar that have all piqued my interest the last while, so 4 months or so of sub would be better value than buying them all probably.

@AldusRavencorn Forza Motorsport is competition for GT, not the Horizon series. Within the racing genre, Horizon and GT could hardly be further apart.

I liked the original FF13, but there's no denying that it got a bit boring with all the walking in a straight line. It was at least 20 hours too long for me. Preferred it when it opened up.

It still looks great to my eyes - a 4k remaster is all it needs.

Forza 5 (or 4 for that matter) - PS gamers in for a treat as they're brilliant games. Bit too much of the naff pretend social media stuff (especially in 5) but the racing is second to none, literally. As good as it gets.

And if it's Starfield then also great news for PS owners. Had dozens of hours of fun with that and will go back at some point and have dozens more. My advice would be to please try it for yourself. The criticism it got was bizarrely disproportionate.

@Th3solution you need to look up the word 'objective' as you don't seem to know what it means.

It's comment sections like this that make me think I've outgrown the internet. Phil's comments were nothing more than a bit of banter. Why is everyone so thin skinned?!

Ha, Origins had a flipping massive map anyway. Odyssey and Valhalla were just too big by a good chunk.

Not for me personally. Makes no difference to how the games play and games look absolutely fantastic for the most part. More than happy to stick with what I've got for a few years.

Top quality nerdology there.