Kaepora_Gaebora

I can finally play Disney's The Lion King and Aladdin game; after six long months I went to court, represented myself, and got my boys back! One of the first things my eldest told me was that he'd dressed up like Mario, and that him and his brother were like Mario and Luigi 😍

Thought I'd give some impressions that no one was asking for having spent a bit of time playing on this over the weekend and today: - The UI is nice, very Google, and can clearly access the store, and your own games. - it seems to recognise that I'm playing with an Xbox controller which is nice, menu options and button prompts use the logos that match my Xbox controller. - decent selection of free games to start with, Destiny 2, PUBG, Gylt (the only exclusive I think) and a few more Now the biggie, actual game play. While I admire the attempt, it just doesn't work very well. I did the official website check of my speed which clocked in at 13mbs, not amazing but it said I'd be able to play in HD if not 4K. From my phone, I'm not too bothered about that. But sat near my router I played through some of Gylt and the controls weren't quite synced up properly all the time, and there were some stutters here and there too which took away from the overall experience. In the last hour I've tried to play the Panzer Dragoon remake as that's been launched free on Pro today; I've been out in the garden and where I was sat it kept dropping in and out of the WiFi signal, so I moved closer (still outside) and tried the signal test again to make sure (13mbs again) and it's played like dross, a stuttering mess of a game experience with audio crackling, controls about a second if not two behind the action and constant stopping and starting , before the WiFi signal went again, despite being in a good enough place for it. I thought about trying my 4G but a warning came up saying it could potentially use up about 20GB of data...well that's my monthly limit so until I do more research I didn't want to try that. I'm not going to buy any games on it, and will probably cancel the subscription once the free trial is over, but it doesn't seem to be as good a product as a beta xCloud is through my experience so far.

Just read that this offer is now ending on the 2nd June... Can't imagine everyone is bursting the doors down to sign up but I've had to upgrade my phone to a Pixel 4 this week, and have an controller/phone clip on the way that was for xCloud, so reckon I'll download it and see what it's like, just using my Xbox controller though which is a shame, would be good to try out the official Stadia pad!

I remember when Titanfall was coming out, I pre ordered the 360 version (because I had one) and the One version too (didn't have) just in case, in the end I went for the console bundled with the game, so it'll be interesting to see how things like this and the Smart Delivery work for the business side of things; from a customer friendly POV I would have loved to buy Titanfall 360 and then jump to the One and carry on my experience, so the fact you'll be able to do that with the Series X is great from a customer POV. Just waiting on what the pricing structure will be for it to decide if I jump in or not straight away, it's good to know that if I want to get AC Valhalla for Christmas I could get it for my One and when I do upgrade to the Series X I won't have to start all over again or pay for the game again too.

I've got to fight the Black Veiled VH on Friday night; my friend hasn't had as much time as me to get through Iceborne, he tried it last night both solo and with the SOS and failed every time, text me to say he'd unplugged his Xbox from the TV he was that annoyed with it 😂🙈 I've unlocked the Stygian Zinogre, Furious Rajang and Raging Brachy quests but I've halted that at the moment for some achievement hunting, been collecting rare animals and working through the research logs at the mo, not getting any HR or MR points but it's nice to have a different objective for the moment before it all kicks off with those beasts again!

I found exactly the same with Origins; I started it just after Odyssey came out, the setting sounded right up my street (for both Origins and Odyssey) but I couldn't get through it I found it so boring and uninspiring. At the time as well game time was very precious so I was filled with regret after every "I'll give it one more go" session!

Polished off the Iceborne story yesterday morning and found the Guiding Lands in the evening and broke through the MR ceiling, went in at MR41 which surprised me, thought it'd be much lower! Overall it's more of the same ("we've found the source, it's this monster!" *Kills monster* "wait, no, it wasn't that monster, it's THIS monster!" Rinse and repeat) but it shows off a good selection of the new monsters and, admittedly only on Xbox, but it's no wonder the achievement % are so low, it's bolt hard in places! Initially abit confused about the Guiding Lands, not really sure about the whole mash up theme of the map, but I'm sure once I put more time into it it'll make sense and hopefully be rewarding. I still stand by earlier comments that it misses a portable element to it (streaming or device lead) as this game is perfect for having the TV on in the background while you mine/farm for things you need. Having said that, the game is alot easier in that respect than past versions I've played, apart from affinity I've yet to come across anything negative wise in the skills section of armour/weapons, which means you aren't trying to charm anything out as well as in. And it does still need a proper solo element to it as well, again in my opinion, to help newer hunters get to grips with each monsters style and what not. But those are only minor gripes, it's a shame I'm on Xbox (behave) as community is great on this and I've loved playing with people on here; @Kav and @Blade on MH3U as my first taste of the game, and even just last year @RedShell @Glen-i @Dcubed @S.C.G and @Hero-of-Time on MHGU. I loved getting my friends together on the sofa and beating tough, tough monsters, the silence as it neared the end and then the eruption of cheering, hugging and joy at finally downing it, so that's been missed as well. One friend (who I played with in person back in 3U days and since) has it on Xbox still and we've been playing about one night a week with chat, which has had some great moments, but isn't quite the same as real life. Wish they'd get cross play into this at least! I'm still going to be playing this as my main game for the foreseeable, I've set myself a target to get to MR100 and HR100 as well so that I can be well placed to tackle the big monsters and get the big rewards, and also do some achievement hunting as well as I've found a great deal of mental reward in that recently, which is probably why I've not played as many Nintendo games during lockdown, and haven't touched AC in a good week now! Overall it's been great to finally put the time into this that I never really did on its launch and lose myself in a Monster Hunter game as well, muscle memory is a wonderful thing 😊

I loved Color Splash; not as much as 64 or TTYD but it's still a really fun and funny game to play... https://www.n-europe.com/reviews/paper-mario-color-splash

Haha alright don't spoil it for me 😂 Yeah it was abit of a nightmare on 4U, I just bloody love the Brachy, blinded by love! Saying that I'll keep an eye on other decent sets to see if I actually need it, if it becomes too much of a pain I'll stick to something else.

Defeated the Velkhana this morning; quite incredibly I solo'd it after a few goes where it beat the you know what out of me, I had a look at some tactics online, re arranged my decorations and what potions I took, and nailed it. After I got my carves in and the counter went down, the screen went black, the Xbox whirred abit...and the game crashed, and hadn't saved it as complete 🤦‍♂️ Genuinely thought about never playing the game again for about 20 minutes, made a coffee and then thought if I don't do it now I never will, answered an SOS call and luckily the group was sensible and good hunters, and we took it down with one faint remaining. Someone did attempt to capture it though on a slay quest 🙈 I've only done a handful of optional quests to get either certain parts or upgrade mantles etc, so I'm looking forward to breaking through the MR ceiling and unlocking more monsters and, I've now got a decent Velkhana ice weapon that'll help me against Raging Brachy when I get to that, and a Nergigante Lance that's high on elderseal and dragon damage too.

I've got myself kitted out in full Brachydios G rank armour, fully upgraded, and the fully upgraded Brachy weapon too. I wouldn't say it's a particularly amazing build for lance weapons but I've always had it in every MH game I've played, and the Lagiacrus set, but haven't seen that yet... Loving the Iceborne expansion, up to MR 14 now and really enjoying the new map, it's beautiful!

Malik "left speechless by the Dirt 5 reveal" 🤦‍♂️ pack it in, at least try not to be stupid about it! Call of the Sea and Yakuza were the only games that got me interested, and I've only downloaded 0 and Kiwami through game pass, haven't actually played them! I get you want the third party company's to get on board and make games for you, but they absolutely had to start with some big, big reveals like Halo or Perfect Dark or if third party Batman or whatever they're going with, not a game demo of a generic FPS that one person built. Most games looked fairly drab and murky as well, nothing to shout about at all that'll set the world alight. Most interesting thing was the Game Pass logo popping up frequently, seems to be games won't be exclusive but will be on Game Pass?

Knew I shouldn't have tempted fate 🤦‍♂️

Looks like instead of exclusives they are taking the "On Game Pass" route, that's where they are spending their money. If the Valhalla game play is the "big reveal" then Xbox Go Home 🙈

Call of the Sea first game that has interested me so far, rest has looked fairly generic or not my cuppa

Love Sarah Bond pretending to be excited about Madden 🤦‍♂️

So weird seeing Damon Baker in this!

Absolutely, be nice to leave with a grin at a decent suprise or reveal! Good to have something like this to 'look forward' to at the moment, whether good or bad hopefully lots of discussion and new things to get excited about 😊

It's been deleted and claimed not true since, but the official Xbox Portugal (!) Twitter account posted that Cyberpunk would be on Game pass at launch... If that's an early slip for what's to be revealed later, that would be a huge get! I know they've already got the One X console and bundle exclusivity, but if that goes on Game Pass at launch its a game changer!

Incredible work @Hero-of-Time, would love to see you doing a Monster Hunter stream/podcast type thing one day (just saying...😉) I bit the bullet last week and picked up Iceborne, having an absolute (ice) blast with it so far, up to MR10 and I've just come up against my old favourite Brachydios, so I've halted everything else to farm him and get the full set and weapon like I had in 3U and 4U as well. Similar to @drahkon a friend upgraded at the same time so we are doing our own thing and then once or twice a week getting together to power through optionals on MR. The hoarfrost map is an absolute delight too!

I'd argue Viva Piñata was, as well as being perfect for a Nintendo platform, ahead of its time, feels like the sort of game that'd get raved about, albeit likely a live service model game...🤦‍♂️ I've read alot about how Game Pass is "freeing up" developers as it's not based on a sales model, and apparently games like Gears Tactics would never have been made without it, so hopefully that'll encourage MS and developers to bring back some classic IP as well as new one's as well.

Yeah I've seen that speculation, I would be over the moon if that is the case (and it's more like the original than zero in style...) But I guess I don't want to get my hopes up! With Battletoads confirmed already (and after Streets of Rage 4 being so bloody good hopefully that'll have a knock on effect) let's hope Rare IP will finally be utilised!

I'd be stunned by delighted if we got a Perfect Dark reboot, if we do I could see it be a 'reimagining' of the N64 original as opposed to brand new, so that people are more likely to buy it. More interested in the first party presentation in July but still intrigued for tomorrow's show! Hoping to see the long rumoured Batman game, and it's about time someone did something with the James Bond license as well...

Nintendo take note! 😂

After the botched launch event for the One, it's clear that Microsoft have their eye on being a 'service provider' more than just making physical hardware; they almost forgot about the games and tried to make a TV service/Xbox as a hub. Clearly after they realised that was going to tank the Xbox brand, they retreated and thought of a way to do that but focussing on games and what they're good at, technology. I have to say, xcloud is very good and works well even on my original Google Pixel XL phone. At the moment Game Pass is brilliant but, if I really fancied playing a game I haven't installed yet, that's potentially a 100GB install before I can. Putting that as part of the game pass package and ecosystem makes it alot of sense. I'll be interested to see what third party games they show off next week; obviously if they aren't going to be under the game pass banner all of a sudden under the Xbox roof that makes them a harder sell. Still, the three usual suspects are going off in different directions, MS as 'service' based, Sony more traditional model and Nintendo doing, as always, whatever it is they do 😂