ISSUE 215 JULY 2018 W W W.GAMESRADAR.COM/OXM

THE ID@XBOX GAMES YOU SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR!

EXCLUSIVE STUDIO ACCESS!

THE END OF LARA’S ORIGIN STORY PLAYTESTED INSIDE Q Eidos Montreal talks jungle combat QXbox One X hands-on QFirst look at Lara’s cataclysmic mistake

NEW INFO! HUGE NEW DETAILS! FINAL VERDICT! ELDER SCROLLS NO MAN’S SKY HELLBLADE We explore Summerset and talk Exploring the intergalactic Can the Xbox One X elevate this to the TESO team adventure on Xbox One stunningly animated title?

INTRO

ISSUE 215 JULY 2018 Mexican EDITORIAL Editor Stephen Ashby Seryph01 [email protected] Group Senior Art Editor Warren Brown wozbrown Deputy Editor Daniella Lucas CelShadedDreams

Production Editor Russell Lewin FloatedRelic264

Paul Taylor Taylor Paul Paulus McT Paulus Staff Writer Adam Bryant FirebreedpunkUnder Down Man Our

CONTRIBUTORS Writing Kimberley Ballard, Vikki Blake, Zoe Delahunty-Light, Ian Dransfield, Fraser Gilbert, Callum Hart, Steve Hogarty, Leon Hurley, Phil Iwaniuk, cave Martin Kitts, Dave Meikleham, Dom Peppiatt, Dom Reseigh-Lincoln, Paul Walker-Emig, Josh West, Ben Wilson Art Rebecca Shaw

All copyrights and trademarks are recognized and respected

BUSINESS Vice President, Sales Stacy Gaines, [email protected] We managed to get another huge scoop this Vice President, Strategic Partnerships Isaac Ugay, [email protected] East Coast Account Director month after Eidos Montreal invited us over to Brandie Rushing, [email protected] East Coast Account Director Michael Plump, [email protected] Midwest Account Director Canada to see the latest Tomb Raider title, play Jessica Reinert, [email protected] West Coast Account Director Austin Park, [email protected] the first hour, and chat to the team about what we West Coast Account Director Brandon Wong, [email protected] West Coast Account Manager can expect from the final chapter of Lara’s origins Tad Perez, [email protected] Director of Marketing Robbie Montinola Director, Client Services Tracy Lam story. Find out all about the game (including Director, Retail Sales Bill Shewey Stephen Ashby CIRCULATION whether or not dual pistols and multiplayer will Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers Editor Head of Production Mark Constance Steve waved goodbye Production Project Manager Clare Scott appear) in our feature on p42. We also looked Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby to the team and the Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson into the tech behind the games you love to try Production Manager Nola Cokely magazine with a tear SUBSCRIPTION QUERIES in his eye and an Xbox Visit us on the web at www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/gaming/official- and understand what the hell a game engine is, xbox-magazine-subscription, email us at contact@myfavouritemagazines. com, call us toll free at 1-844-779-2822, or write to us at Official Xbox controller tied up in a Magazine Customer Care, P.O. Box 2024, Langhorne, PA 19047.

handkerchief slung over and why it’s so important (p52), reviewed the BACK ISSUES his shoulder. The team To order back issues, please call us at 1-844-779-2822, or visit us on the controversial Far Cry 5 (p66) and went hands-on web at www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/gaming/xbox-the-official- waited until he rounded magazine-back-issues/ REPRINTS Please contact us at Future US, Inc., the corner before the with the indie titles that you should be excited 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080 celebrations began. Phone (650) 872-1642 about on Xbox this year (p58). Sadly this will be Fax (650) 872-2207 Website www.futureus.com ISSN 1534-7850 OXM © 2018 Future US, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part my last issue in the editor’s chair at , but I’m without permission is prohibited. Microsoft, Xbox, and the Xbox logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or in other countries and are used under license from Microsoft. All other trademarks thrilled to be going out on a high with such an epic and copyrights are the property of their respective holders.

Global Chief Revenue Officer Charlie Speight issue. Next month’s mag should be just as good, Vice President, Marketing & Operations Rhoda Bueno Vice President, Product Development Bart Jaworski Finance Director Frederick Alfredo too—I can’t wait to see it. For now, enjoy! Senior HR Generalist Mary Mauck Future US, Inc. is part of Future plc. Future produces carefully targeted special-interest magazines, websites, and events for people who share a passion. We aim to satisfy that passion by creating titles offering value for money, reliable information, and smart buying advice, and that are a pleasure to read or visit. Today we publish more than 150 magazines, 65 websites, and a growing number of events in the U.S., UK, France, and Italy. Over 100 international editions of our magazines are also published in 30 other countries across the world.

OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE (ISSN 1534-7850) is published 13 times a year (monthly THE OXM TEAM plus Holiday issue following December issue), by Future US, Inc., One Lombard Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94111. Phone: (650) 872-1642. Fax (650) 872-2207. Website: www.futureus.com. Periodicals postage paid in San Bruno, CA and at additional mailing offices. Newsstand distribution is handled by Time Warner Retail.Canadian orders must be prepaid. Canadian price includes postage and GST #R128220688. PMA #40612608. Subscriptions do not include newsstand specials. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Official Xbox Magazine, PO Box 2024, Langhorne, PA 19047, USA. Standard Mail enclosed in the following edition: None. Ride-Along enclosed in the following editions: None. Canadian returns: IMEX Global Solutions, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada. Future US, Inc. also publishes @Gamer, Crochet Today!, Mac|Life, Maximum PC, and PC Gamer. Entire contents copyright © 2018, Future US, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. Future US, Inc. is not affiliated with the companies or products covered in Official Xbox Magazine. Reproduction on the Internet of the articles and pictures in this magazine is illegal without the prior written consent of Official Xbox Magazine. Products named in the pages of Official Xbox Magazine are trademarks of their respective companies. PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Daniella Lucas Adam Bryant Warren Brown Russell Lewin Deputy editor Staff writer Senior art editor Production editor Dani suggested a pizza Adam took his Warren received a C64 Russell sometimes gets place for the team’s investigation of game Mini console this month annoyed when there last supper as a group engines far too seriously and unplugged the Xbox isn’t enough text in a this month. It was super this month. At one point One X to play it. The box. Sorry Russ. Future plc is a public company Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne delicious, and now she’s he turned up to work in rest of the team were quoted on the London Stock Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford Exchange Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand in charge of all future a long brown coat and a outraged, then bemused (symbol: FUTR) www.futureplc.com Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244 food-based decisions. fake moustache. Weird. by the terrible graphics.

004 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE

START contents

Everything you can look forward to over the next 90 or so pages insider 010 THE BIG STORY: SEA OF THIEVES 014 HOT TOPIC 016 THE BIG PICTURE: PLANET ALPHA 018 SPYRO THE DRAGON 020 FINAL FANTASY XV previews 026 THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE: SUMMERSET 030 010 NO MAN’S SKY 032 OVERKILL’S THE WALKING DEAD 034 JURASSIC PARK EVOLUTION 036 THE CREW 2

038 CRASH BANDICOOT N SANE TRILOGY 039 THE BLACKOUT CLUB 040 LEGO THE INCREDIBLES 041 GRIP 041 CODE VEIN SUBSCRIBE NOW ON PAGE 076

032

006 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 041 ONRUSH 041 OCEANHORN 2: KNIGHTS OF THE LOST REALM 041 GENESIS ALPHA ONE 041 MUTANT YEAR ZERO: ROAD TO EDEN features 042 TOMB RAIDER 052 OXM INVESTIGATES… GAME ENGINES 058 ID@XBOX GAMES 042 reviews 066 FAR CRY 5 070 DARWIN PROJECT 072 EXTINCTION 074 HELLBLADE: SENUA’S SACRIFICE extra 080 NOW PLAYING: RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER 052 082 DARK SOULS 092 083 WWE 2K18 084 RETROSPECTIVE: XBLG 088 OXM EXPLORES... MASS EFFECT 090 WHY I LOVE… DOOM’S PROLOGUE 092 10 BEST MULTIPLAYER GAMES 096 DIRECTORIES 098 DISC SLOT: DEREK BRADLEY 066

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More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 007 INSIDER JULY 2018 insider The water may have been a little light and choppy for Rare’s Sea Of Thieves (p10) at first, but there’s also a huge island of promise on the horizon. We’ve been picking through all of the latest info to cover the future of this swashbuckling pirate simulator and 010 what’s in store for players over the coming months. We’ve also been back talking about lootboxes after Shadow Of War has dropped them completely. Is this a sign that the industry is changing, or is it too little too late? And why is it that some developers seem to get the right balance and others can’t? 014 Read our thoughts on p14. Crash Bandicoot isn’t the only ’90s platforming hero getting the full remaster treatment: Our tiny purple friend Spyro is also returning in Spyro Reignited Trilogy later this year— we’ve got all of the details on p18. Finally (or not so 018 finally really), Final Fantasy XV (p20) is getting even more content over the next year. Despite the Royal Edition release recently being the ‘definitive’ version, another four DLC episodes are on the way as well as a new alternative ending. Surely it’s too late for more story changes? Tell us what you think... 020

008 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 009

SEA OF THIEVES INSIDER

CALL OF BOOTY The shipping forecast Sea Of Thieves set sail with a light cargo of content, but its developers have much more planned in the coming months

We love being virtual buccaneers as director Mike Chapman. “Supporting much as anyone. More than most, a four-player crew on the sloop is actually, if you were to measure that something we’re looking at.” There’s love in the number of ‘Aaaaaar!’s even talk of implementing rowboats emitted per minute while playing Sea for moving between galleons (or Of Thieves. But as we mentioned in our indeed sloops) and dry land. The team review last month, it’s an unavoidable prototyped it and enjoyed the results truth that Rare’s freeform piratical internally, and have publicly stated sandbox isn’t laden with things to do their interest in adding the feature at at present. a later date. Oddly though, physical Rather than write such a potential- anchors are out of the question. filled game off though, we’ve been Currently you can drop anchor, but listening to the whispers of the ocean nothing actually falls off the boat and waves (and trawling Reddit) finding down onto the ocean floor. Apparently out what Rare has planned in future the devs decided the resources for it. Exact timescales have yet required to make this happen just to be pinned down, of course, but weren’t worth it. the developers are making lots of Throw of a dice I am encouraging noises regarding quests, legend customization, diversions, and more. Granted, news of the newfound ability One such planned addition is that to huddle together in a smaller boat of four-player sloops. This is big news might not be sufficient to lure players The biggest question for seafaring gamers because, without back who might have tried the game in such a free-flowing wishing to be crude, size really does at launch and found it lacking exciting multiplayer sandbox as Sea Of Thieves is: matter. Your entire experience is gubbins. For those individuals, the What’s the point? radically shifted when you elect to go looming possibility of mini-games Well, the point is to solo on a sloop rather than a galleon— might scratch the itch. Activities such decide that for it’s cheaper, lonelier, and removes as dice and card games were briefly yourself, exploring the crew communication that proves teased during the game’s pre-release horizons both physical such a lynchpin of the wider game in appearances but have yet to get past and metaphorical. favor of lone wolf-ing it through every the prototyping stage. The devs are And also to become a challenge and combat encounter. open to their future inclusion though: Pirate Legend. Maxing Soon it may not simply be a decision “If we put dice in the game we’d love out to level 50 with all factions grants of going it alone on a sloop or in a to see what players do with them,” you access to a crew of four on a galleon, though: says executive producer Joe Neate. totally new faction, “We’re looking to add the ability to “For example, using them to direct with the quests that play publicly or privately on any ship your adventure. Roll six to head West!” come with it. you choose after launch,” says design Such an addition would sit in line with

THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 011 INSIDER SEA OF THIEVES

the overarching design philosophy of launch microtransactions, Neate Sea Of Thieves “There’s some ABOVE Soon it , which is never to draw later clarified that “we’re considering won’t just be the player out of the game world. After all options and they’re part of our galleons you can taking such great efforts to have you disagreement ongoing service. We don’t have plans crew with mates, but sloops too. fight, communicate, steer a ship, and for them to be bought with gold but play the hurdy-gurdy without having as to whether we’re looking at potential ways players to delve into static menus, it’d be could earn them.” It’ll be possible to immersion-breaking to have to do so fishing’s a own several different pets, but sadly— in order to roll some dice. However, nay, tragically—you’ll only be able to with the game’s relentless fetch piratical activity” take one of them out with you on a quest structure at risk of wearing voyage at a time. No recreating Biblical a bit thin by repetition at present, disagreement at the Twycross studio arks quite yet, then. kicking back for a game of cards with as to whether fishing’s a particularly some AI chums, or indeed your own piratical activity, although they have New looks crewmates, sounds like an ideal, expressed at least an interest in its For the fashion-forward pirate, there’s immersion-friendly palate cleanser. future inclusion. We’d argue that a more good news. Rare’s working on There’s a musical update planned diet of crackers and grog alone is new customization options that will soon too: Drums. Every pirate band dangerously malnourishing, and that allow players to change their hair needs a rock-solid rhythm section, a tuna steak here and there does no color via the Vanity Chest, and also after all, and the rather basic skins end of good for crew morale—but a tattoo customization system that planned for inclusion are certainly what do we know? We don’t even have looks to reward players for their lore-friendly. a parrot on our shoulder. accomplishments—unlocking a Perhaps it’s the immersion factor Oh, speaking of: Changes are afoot kraken tattoo after defeating one on that has Rare umming and aahing (or a-peg, to use the pirate-friendly the high seas, say. They say tattoos about the possible inclusion of a vernacular) for pets, too. Initially tell a person’s story, and in everyday fishing mechanic, too. There’s some announced as the game’s first post- life that story is usually ‘I wanted to

I’m a bit surprised that some I dove headfirst into the Sea The game definitely needs a think fishing isn’t a Of Thieves at launch, bit more going on. As OXM pirate-like pastime when sloop-ing around in a gorgeous as it looks, SAYS chasing chickens around two-man crew for the most sometimes it can seem a bit tropical islands is. Let me part. Although I’ve enjoyed aimless, a bit casual. They cast my line over the water the hours I’ve sunk into the should get ambitious: More and take in the sea’s bounty game I’d like to see future tasks! More monsters! More Daniella please, I want to catch those Warren content drops offer greater Russell root vegetables! Only then Lucas bastard sharks. Brown challenge and reward. Lewin will I be satisfied.

012 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE VIDEOGAME PIRACY

People really aren’t happy with Sea Of Thieves’ first Pirate Legend

Hitting level 50 across the game’s three factions is a mighty undertaking that involves many, many hours of skeleton-bashing, riddle-solving and sailing. So naturally everyone in the community wanted to be the first to do it. And naturally everybody now hates the one player who managed it. But it’s not quite that clear cut. You see, Prod1gyX streamed their attempt to become a Pirate Legend on Twitch, and gained quite a following doing so. The problem is, many of those watching believed that Prod1gyX was ‘boosting’ to get to his accolade. In other words, joining parties of other players and piggybacking their achievements to accelerate their own progress. You might see this as textbook pirate behavior— plundering the riches of others—but the pirate population has largely disavowed its first ever Pirate Legend. Would Jack Sparrow have played by the rules?

look like a reality TV star/got drunk near a tattoo parlor’ so the idea of RIGHT What will more meaningful scribbles is one to cheer up these welcome with open arms. listless faces? Furthermore on the customization Rare has a few front, it appears that the Legendary neat ideas. Ships unlocked by becoming a Pirate Legend (see ‘Videogame Piracy’) aren’t as profoundly different in their features as some in the community were expecting. In other words: They’re almost certainly just cosmetic changes. “When we bring in ship captaincy the legendary cosmetics that you acquire will apply to both sloop and galleon,” said Chapman on the matter. No mention of extra crew slots or special features that some had rather speculatively expected would comprise the Legendary Ship game events (think Overwatch) via Rare clearly plans to expand Sea package. And really, that’s probably a rhyming riddle: “New visitors soon Of Thieves, and indeed the studio’s for the best—the game’s designed there may be, traveling far across the hard at work on minor updates to as a level playing field for everyone sea, depth of night with eyes aglow, improve performance and stability at regardless of their hours looting and crawling the earth cast in shadow.” the moment. But without a firm time plundering. The cutlass, blunderbuss, It’s not Ted Hughes, but it gets the scale on any of those aforementioned and rifle you’re armed with are the info across. You can expect a spooky additions, we’re still not confident that same for every pirate in the land, so night-time event that likely introduces it’ll have enough to stay afloat for long why should the ships be any different? a new skeleton type, the Shadow after release. The fundamentals are skeleton. These lugubrious fellows all in place, but we need to see more Making it happen are much more dangerous than your substantial content drops like the We’ll leave you with this from everyday bag-o’-bones, but they’re event teased above in order to keep Chapman, who recently teased the also vulnerable to sunlight or even your us interested in the world—and to keep first of several planned special in- lantern. Hence the name, we guess. us grinding away at its systems. Q

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SEA OF THIEVES? TELL US AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/OXMUK

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 013 INSIDER DISCUSSION

OXM DISCUSS How we feel about how microtransactions have changed

The future of microtransactions looks brighter than ever with the enormous shift in publishers’ perspectives

With the recent news that Middle Earth: Shadow Of LEFT Is this the beginning of the War will be pulling end for micro- microtransactions transactions? Maybe not, from the game but we’re more in their entirety, optimistic and Star Wars Battlefront II drastically than ever. changing their stance, Team OXM decides to weigh in to discuss.

Daniella: I’m so happy to see loot boxes removed in Shadow Of War and how they’ve changed in SWBFII, though at the same time I also think them being terrible in the first place needed to happen.

Stephen: SWBFII definitely took most of the flak at the time, but the real problem was locking actual gameplay items behind the paywall. Yes, you can play to unlock them as well, but that was a huge grind, and if players can grab the coolest stuff right from the start with a credit card that’s not right.

Warren: I played a ton of SWBFII at launch, and witnessed players who picked up the Elite Trooper Deluxe Edition get an instant head start over everyone else. I’d like to see paying upfront for loot crate content disappear frankly. It was even being sold with the tag line “dominate the battlefront”, and it was instantly apparent that players with deep pockets, were!

Adam: We’re finally seeing the results of including microtransactions the wrong way. If it wasn’t for SWBFII pushing it too far and consumers reacting as expected, this may not be the case. So in a weird way, we’ve

014 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE HOT TOPIC INSIDER

got EA to thank for it. I also think this That’s the direction that SWBFII has Anthem bodes well for . OXM pushed in now, and it’s definitely an improvement. PANEL Daniella: Though it does still feel like HOT TOPIC FIFA players get the short end of the Daniella: I quite like what Sea Of stick. Maybe we still need to fight Thieves have done with their limited HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT back more! edition controller—you buy a physical SOME OF THE CHANGES item tied to the game and get bonus IN GAMES THAT USE Stephen: FIFA definitely suffers from stuff in-game too. MICROTRANSACTIONS? the problem. It’s the same with GTA Online. You can buy millions of in-game Warren: As if I wasn’t tempted to buy “Some may argue it’s dollars for a few pounds, then go buy that Sea Of Thieves pad already. I’m a too late to retract; a tank and blow up everyone in your sucker for merch. others might say it is play session. That seems unfair, but Stephen Ashby paving the way to more Editor nobody really complains! Is upset because Daniella: I also like that that approach fairness in the every time he joins leaves you with a memento even after consumer side of Adam: There are quite a few games a session in GTA: an online game has closed down years modern gaming.” Online that do it right, though. Games like he’s blasted into the future—you’ll still have a piece Bobby Gray Rose to smithereens by a Fortnite, Overwatch, Titanfall 2 (which maniac piloting a jet. of it. I’d love to see real-life Fortnite is an EA game, remember), and PUBG piñatas with a little outfit code tucked all have in-game purchases that have inside. “Too little too late. Hard absolutely zero impact on gameplay. to backtrack on a bad People just want cool, cosmetic stuff. Adam: Again there needs to be a first step.” balance with that too. I remember in Mike Anthony the Xbox 360 days they would offer “I’d like to avatar items when buying controllers. But that’s not too different than “When it comes to pay Daniella Lucas providing extra DLC for different to win it’s jarring. see paying Deputy editor Since mentioning a editions of a game. As Ubisoft have Particularly if you’ve upfront for loot Fortnite piñata Dani’s been known for. forked out $60 for a been walking around new game, only to find the office with a Warren: I like the idea of exclusive out you’re already at a crate content stick hitting things looking for rewards. tie-in content, just so long as those disadvantage because disappear” who can’t afford, or simply don’t fancy you’re not paying extra.” a themed controller, still get a chance Carrie Bancroft to pay for the same content, even if its Warren: Personally I’d be perfectly availability is delayed by a few months. happy with a set of unique character “Nothing wrong with skins or bespoke vehicular paint-jobs. Stephen: I suppose it depends what microtransactions.” Why upset the majority of a game’s you want—if you think about it as a Robin Allman player base just to benefit the few who ‘bonus’ to buying the controller it’s Adam Bryant enable a quick cash in? The long-term Staff writer fine. If you specifically want the item damage to a publisher’s reputation Just wants to return maybe there should be another way to “I think it’s a little too just isn’t worth it. to the good old days buy it… such as an in-game purchase! late, honestly, but I of gaming when Guys, I think we have just solved it. appreciate that everything was much Stephen: We’ve been saying it for simpler. We think they’re doing away a long time, but if lootboxes are it’s an illness. Adam: Things are made even more with them.” purely cosmetic, they can be great. complicated by the fact that everyone Jeremiah Closson has their own limits at to what’s acceptable to buy. I think in the grand scheme of things, everything needs “Microtransactions to be transparent if people are looking should only be for to get more money out of consumers. cosmetic purposes Having to detail the odds of success after a certain amount Warren Brown helps, but it doesn’t get rid of the idea of time from the Senior art editor that the only reason there are odds to game’s release.” Will buy anything get certain items in the first place is to John Paul Davies that has ‘Sea Of convince you to pay more. Q Thieves’ written Agree with the above? Have on it. We’ve been quite liberal with Tell us what you think on Twitter by your own ideas? Tell us at the Sharpie. reaching us @OXM. facebook.com/oxmuk

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 015 016 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE PLANET ALPHA INSIDER TOP Boldly go SECRET Explore a beautiful alien platformer world in Planet Alpha

We never expected something so obstacles in your path, such as pretty and green to come out of the crumbling terrain. You’ll also learn mind of someone who used to work that despite how beautiful everything on Hitman and Kane And Lynch 2, but might be there’s also something Adrian Lazar has been beavering away a little sinister going on in the on this stunning game for the last four background—tech going to war with years, and is now teaming up with nature, perhaps. It just goes to show Team17 to bring it to the masses. that no matter how advanced your It’s a side-scrolling puzzle spaceship is it can still be taken out platformer set on alien planet full of by a rogue flying whale. Even if it is space whales, curious plants that hiding a dark secret, we can’t wait to glow softly, and garishly colored see more of this gorgeous planet. Q vines. As you explore the planet you’ll uncover the ability to rotate Planet Alpha will release at some and control the planet to overcome point in 2018.

THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 017 INSIDER SPYRO: REIGNITED TRILOGY

BARREL WATCH GAMING’S FAVORITE PROP RATED BY OUR RESIDENT COOPER

TESO: Summerset Truly there is no better accompaniment to curved, aged oak than the smell of the sea at a harbor. I could sniff in that HOT Getting fired up essence all evening. STUFF Assassin’s Creed Rogue Spyro the Dragon is finally getting How dare he! the remaster treatment I can’t believe that man with the awful hat is After the announcement of Crash rescuing your fellow dragons, stopping leaning his posterior on those poor Bandicoot coming to Xbox One we’ve evil wizards, and recovering stolen babies. If I ever meet him I’ll crush now got another platforming classic eggs like before. Spyro also has a him under my own.. on the way in the shape of a little mean headbutt to dispatch enemies purple lizard. That’s right, Spyro is with and a very handy fire breath Shadows: back with the Reignited Trilogy. This attack. He’s also accompanied by his Awakening version will include the first three dragonfly companion Sparx, who acts Where’s the games in all of their remastered glory a bit like a health bar to show you just tapering? packaged together in a similar way to how many more hits your scaly avatar They’ve tried the Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy, can take. but clearly not with a fair few tweaks to bring the This may be the return of a thought it through—the lack of experience up to date. nostalgic franchise, but with all these curve will be a disaster when Graphically it’s an absolutely updates it will be one fit for the most trying to turn while rolling. TOP He may be cute and tiny monumental leap. Where there were modern of gaming tech. Between this compared to once muddy brown blocks for trees and Crash Bandicoot, it’s a great year Pillars Of other dragons, there now stand beautifully detailed for platforming game fans both new Eternity II: but Spyro means business and has trunks and branches with actual and nostalgic. Q Deadfire a fiery attitude rounded edges and textures. It also Why have these to back it up. boasts smoother, updated controls to You’ll be able to join Spyro’s poor souls been make angling the camera a far better adventures in September. left this way? experience than it was in the late ‘90s. Left to roll away on their sides, no Tom Kenny is also returning as the stacking… If this were cooper voice of Spyro, and even the music is college they’d be expelled by now. being rerecorded to make sure it’s as crisp as possible. Moonlighter An idyllic scene Scaled up as a clutch of Of course, underneath all that polish barrels stand you’ll still find the excellent 3D guard outside platforming antics of the original, their master’s and each of the areas has been homestead. Truly they are noble, faithfully recreated even though it all loyal creatures despite their looks a little different. You’ll still be splintery fur.

018 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE ;%2; 21( :,1'2:6  (;&/86,9(

&UXGH +XPRU 8VH RI $OFRKRO 9LROHQFH ‹  0LFURVRIW &RUSRUDWLRQ $OO ULJKWV UHVHUYHG INSIDER FINAL FANTASY XV

NOT SO FINAL Never ending Fantasy

Square Enix isn’t finished with Final Fantasy XV just yet, and a load of content is on its way

With the recent return of Lunafreya, and is described release of the as, “This story’s about Luna’s fate, ‘Royal Edition’, which not even death can save her which collects from. Her battle to save the one she Fantasy all of the DLC loves overturns the destiny dealt to Raider released to date, the Lucian King.” The final chapter some may have (but is it really going to be the final We’ve already seen understandably thought that Final one?) will feature Noctis once again. an Assassin’s Creed Fantasy XV was coming to a close, “Parting ways with the Astrals, Noctis crossover make its but if you’re one of those people, embarks upon his final battle in order way in to the Final Fantasy XV universe we’ve got some news for you. It to attain the ideal future for all his in the form of the was already mentioned last year by people.” From the sounds of things, Assassin’s Festival. director Hajime Tabata that following Now it looks like we’ll the positive player feedback for the be seeing another to previous three episodes they would “We didn’t know coincide with Shadow release more content for this already Of The Tomb Raider, enormous fantasy RPG, and during how much we too. We’re not quite extra FFXV content until the official this year’s PAX East we got a small sure how the announcement, and now all we can glimpse and a few details that are crossover will think about is jumping back into the wanted extra manifest, but we’re quite tantalizing. shoes of Noctis and tearing it up in Eos. hoping that there will This DLC will come in the form of content until the be a few tombs for us four new episodes, similar to the to raid, just like our Alternative fantasy three previous ones that each centred announcement” favorite adventurer. The multiplayer segment of FFXV, around one of Noctis’s best pals and Comrades, also got some attention traveling companions. Episode one during the developers’ panel, as it will focus on Ardyn, and will surprise maybe this will be the ‘final’ piece of looks to be getting its own standalone many given that this chap is the content for FFXV. release this summer. We’re unsure antagonist of the main game. Its Each of these episodes sound if this will be available for free or description, shown during the just as intriguing as the next and not, but it’s certainly an interesting ABOVE The new panel, reads, “This story portrays given that Square Enix has described DLC will give move from the developers, who must the struggles of Ardyn. Witness the them as “A future everyone longed another reason have bigger plans for its future. It’s resentment he harbored toward for,” along with some concept art for one more day possible that they’ll want to continue out with the Lucis for over 2,000 years, and his that shows Ardyn having a picnic best boys. working on the multiplayer segment clashes with the Astrals”. The next with Noctis and crew, this gives long after work on the main game has RIGHT Despite so episode will be a side story “about credence to the idea that we may many changes on finished. Okay, maybe this isn’t the the Starscourge depicted from the be dealing with alternate events the way, we don’t end, after all. Q Niflheim’s perspective. The final day and get an opportunity to see how think anything will be able to OXM of the Empire turns out to be Aranea’s things could have been different. We change the Keep an eye on for all the latest worst day”. Episode two sees the didn’t know how much we wanted Leviathan fight. news about FFXV.

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020 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE PLAY/EJECT INSIDER

PLAY/EJECT THE THINGS PUSHING OUR BUTTON (OR NOT)

Special Ops Sam Fisher will be making his way stealthily into Ghost Recon: Wildlands. Is a new Splinter Cell announcement coming?

Looking back A bunch of backwards compatible original Xbox games have made their way to Xbox One, including Jade Empire and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

Port-a-Fort Fortnite Battle Royale brings a very welcome automatic fort building feature. Throw a grenade and up pops a fort. Brill.

Stardew Party Multiplayer is coming to countryside romance Stardew Valley. Up to four players will be able to farm away to their heart’s content.

Grand Theft Audio The time’s they are a-changin’ and decade old Grand Theft Auto: IV gets a bunch of music removed from the game.

Sympathy Pains Just as we thought we were going to get our sin-filled souls on Agony this month, it gets sneakily delayed.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 021 INSIDER OPINION

Steve Hogarty is... The Fixer Steve sets out to fix the looks of character creation screens

Yank those sliders up these obscene mutants—to play as a and down. Embiggen living, breathing refutation of a caring that conk. Now stretch god—and then have those inhuman out your earlobes, and disasters appear in otherwise normal paint your entire body cutscenes, sobbing over the body of a a sickening shade friend as they bleed out in the street, or of acid green. Make waiting patiently to receive orders from one leg extremely long, the other loop a mob boss who doesn’t seem to notice back on itself, then retract your fingers or care that you’re a 300-pound bearded so much that they turn inside out like a man wearing star-shaped spectacles horrible Marigold made of human skin. and a fluorescent orange nappy. Finally, shrink your eyeballs down to the We players have proven ourselves size of dried peas, so that they rattle incapable of handling the responsibility around inside their empty sockets like of choosing how large our virtual chins beads in the saddest pair of maracas should be, and we should now be you’ve ever known. stripped of the privilege until such time No, not some fancy new yoga workout as we’ve collectively learned our lesson. from London. I’m talking about the process of creating a custom character The solution in a videogame. But where does this Character customization panders to the longstanding practice originate? Well worst of our consumerist instincts, this allow me to completely fabricate the “We can do idea that the customer is always right. history of character creation to explain… But the customer is a gibbering idiot. The very first character creation more to reduce Imagine if you were forced to choose the screen appeared in 1972, when Atari shape of Marlon Brando’s face before allowed players to dress up their Pong customization watching The Godfather, or if a cinema bat in a two-pixel wide moustache and audience could toggle Daniel Day-Lewis’s suspenders, and choose from one of in games” moustache on and off mid-scene. That’s three voices: Sassy, gruff, and Tim Curry. no kind of world I’d want to live in. Since then, character creation screens way to subtly curate the appearance Evidently, I’m not the only person who have become increasingly elaborate, of the game protagonist, and therefore feels that the job of character creation adding different varieties of bow-ties, make you empathize more with them, should be left to the developers. Sea Of top hats, and hand-painted wooden became a means to spawn nightmarishly Thieves takes character customization clogs to the mix. In the 1985 platformer disproportioned clown monsters. and reduces it to a dice roll, offering just classic ‘Lord Montague’s Horrible Open-world games are especially a handful of randomly generated pirates House Of Spikes’, players could adjust notorious for allowing players to create to choose from, and not allowing you the the protagonist’s neck to one of 256 option to fine-tune their knees to your different lengths. Later, with the advent exacting specifications. of 3D graphics in the 1990s, character This is progress, but we can do more creation tools could allow players to to reduce customization in games. enlarge different facial features to Going forward, we must replace every grotesque proportions, such that each protagonist in every game with just bit of the face would tussle with the one default person, called Sharon, with others for domination of the head. perfectly average stats and very normal shoes and a regular sized face. Then, The problem and only then, will we be rid of sliders By the time we reach the modern era, that give your character a big ass. Q the degree to which you can customize a character has reached new and Steve writes for City A.M, where he isn’t ridiculous heights. What began as a known as Sharon either.

022 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE OPINION INSIDER

Daniella Lucas is... The Traveler Dani goes diving in crystal waters in Sea Of Thieves

While the idea of across a captain’s chest or some rare, island-hopping valuable tea to sell. That element of between various luck somehow makes them all the more beautiful tropical intriguing, as does the threat of shark landmasses is very attacks—it’s just the right amount of risk much on my bucket to get your adrenalin flowing. list, it was the ‘sea’ It’s not the only danger you’ll face part of Sea Of Thieves that won my heart. out at sea: Sometimes the waters The open ocean might not be a very themselves will turn against you in great, friendly place when you encounter other stormy swells that threaten to swallow players on the hunt for whatever rare your ship whole. A storm hitting your goods you’re holding in your hull, but tiny sloop is even more terrifying than when you’re in a little sloop on your own meeting the Kraken; at least then you and the wind is behind you, this game have tentacles to fight but there is no feels like no other thanks to the endless battling the sea—you just have to ride it waves dipping up and down around you. out and hope for the best. It’s amazing The bays around islands are a safe just how terrifying the water can be when place to start, and also have the greatest it changes—one minute it’s paradise, variety of life, with coral reefs teeming and the next it can rip you apart much with brightly colored fish. I found myself like the real thing. spending more time splashing around in the water of every island I visited than “There’s a joy Cod of war searching for treasure. There’s a joy in Even when you drift off course past the trying to find secret underwater caverns in trying to find edge of the map and the sea turns an and examining the sandy floor for lost angry red, it still has an amazing sense items. I’ve found bones from long-dead underwater of place, even without a single island sea beasts and even secret pirate in sight. The rising winds and creaking hideouts tucked away in places most caverns” and cracking as your hull rips itself people never think to look in. Taking the apart gives the experience a horrible, extra time to paddle out a little further trapped inside the hull. I love how intangible otherness that makes it feel during your adventures is worth it so depressingly limp these empty, broken like an area beyond comprehension. you can take in just how wonderful the ships feel when you find them. There’s The sea holds many riches, but I do watery world Rare has created is. also excitement at the possibility of the wish that Rare would do more with it. The treasures you might find tucked away water it’s created is a technical marvel Wave hello inside. Maybe all you’ll get is a few extra and feels so wonderfully natural, but Sure, white sandy beaches and sunshine bananas, but occasionally you’ll stumble it’s full of fish that you can’t interact are lovely, but dip below the water, and with. Sure, you’ll meet plenty of sharks you’ll find the game’s real treasure. Full that want you to snuggle in their teeth, of corals, fish, shipwrecks, and the odd but you can’t catch all the colorful hidden ruin, it’s where I’ve had the most little creatures hiding in the corals, and fun exploring. Admittedly the deeper whales and dolphins don’t exist at all. parts of the open ocean are quiet and The game also lacks enemy variation, empty, but there’s something soothing so why not turn to the sea—fish people about diving into nothingness and just would be a natural fit, or a fishing admiring how the light filters down faction. The ocean can provide far more playfully through the water. than just waves—here’s hoping we’ll get Occasionally you’ll find ships that ran to experience even more of it. Q afoul of bad weather or rock formations and have become submerged, all their You can see more of Dani’s gaming contents left to float aimlessly while travels on Instagram: @daniellamlucas.

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The games we want the most

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With Stephen going we’ll soon be a crew of four, just like in Overkill’s The Walking Dead. He’s the first zombie we dispatched

Khajiit has MMO expansion if you have coin. We’re getting the chance to go back to an area that hasn’t been seen since 1994 thanks to The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset (p26). Full of high Elven fantasy OXM’S and racial tensions, it’s often an area that’s been 026 MOST talked about throughout the series though rarely WANTED visited until now. Usually closed to foreigners, the Dani’s pick No Man’s Sky borders have been opened for you to explore the This is a great prospect for the traveler in me. I can’t birthplace of magic. If Elves, ruins, and forests aren’t wait to visit planets covered in weird and your thing then we’ll also be traveling to space wonderful plants and make friends with some newly soon thanks to No Man’s Sky on p30. The game is discovered animals. getting a huge new update and is finally coming to 030 Adam’s pick TESO: Summerset Being able to go back Xbox One after a rocky start on consoles. We’ll be to Summerset Isles after so long is reason enough for getting the ultimate version of this planet-hopping me to be excited about the next journey right from the start. Elsewhere we’re banding chapter in TESO, but I also get to join the Psijic order, together to survive Overkill’s The Walking Dead too! Magic.

Warren’s pick (p32). With four main characters it reminds us a Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy lot of the excellent Left4Dead games—which can It will come as no surprise to my OXM 032 team mates but I only be a good thing. Finally we’re having a go at can’t wait to get my paws on Crash’s playing god thanks to Jurassic World Evolution retro revival! (p34). We think our park-making skills are less ‘fun day out’ and more ‘accident waiting to happen’, though surely that’s the joy when you get to play with dinosaurs. Still, hopefully our park’s patrons will be somewhat resilient to any escapees. As they say, life, uh, finds a way. 034

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Some of the forests you find on Summerset Isles aren’t actually real but are in fact illusions

The Elder

ensure everything goes as planned. Scrolls Online: Thankfully things don’t go as planned and you’re once again thrust into an adventure to uncover a sinister plot Summerset that reeks of Daedra. We go hands-on with the Fans of the Elder Scrolls series are understandably excited for the arrival latest chapter and reunite with of Summerset as it marks the first time since 1994’s The Elder Scrolls an old furry friend Adam Bryant Arena that they’ve been able to visit PUBLISHER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS DEVELOPER ZENIMAX ONLINE this land teeming with magic and STUDIOS FORMAT XBOX ONE ETA JUNE 2018 beauty. For the team at Zenimax Online Studios it seemed like the logical next step. “With our first chapter we This massively multiplayer online role- went to the most north eastern area playing game has been with us for four you could get, and also the most years, and keeps going from strength well known,” explains TESO game to strength, and this June will mark director Matt Firor. “Morrowind was the release of their second chapter, like coming home, it was made to The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset. be very nostalgic. We wanted you No, not the beautiful county in the to feel like you’ve been there before south west of the United Kingdom and to know exactly where you are (spelt slightly differently), but the and discover a new story. So for slightly more magical south west Summerset we wanted to do almost region of Tamriel. the exact opposite. To go to the exact The High Elf Queen Ayrenn has opposite corner of the map and go decreed that the borders of the once somewhere no one had been before forbidden isles of Summerset are since Arena, where we could tell a new to be opened to traders, visitors, story, and see what storytelling is like and immigrants of all races. But not with High Elves.” everyone is happy with this news and have not been shy about making their opinions known. Concerned with “You’ll be able secret abilities, which include time BELOW You’ll some taking issue with the decree manipulation. meet a whole and of rumors regarding strange to augment bunch of new creatures roaming the land, the Queen The Old Way enemies in this strange and once sends her most trusted and faithful your characters’ Crafting has always been a huge forbidden land. Eye of the Queen, Razum-dar, to component in TESO, and being able to attributes more craft and modify your own weapons and armor, as well as brewing potions than ever before” and making enchantments, gives you a huge amount of freedom in how you craft your character. With Summerset Summerset will also see the return you’ll now be able to create your very of the Psijic Order. This secret society own accessories with the Jewelry of powerful mages existed long before Crafting ability. This new skill will allow the formation of the Mage’s Guild, you to augment your characters’ and have returned after a 350-year attributes more than ever before. You’ll absence to the world of Tamriel from need to collect ‘Dust’ from harvested their ancient island of Artaeum— ‘Seams’, which appear in the same now located in another plane of locations as you would Blacksmithing existence—to investigate and seal nodes. As you level up your Jewelry time breaches. Not only will you be Crafting skill, the materials will able to join this mysterious group for become more valuable. You’ll go from the first time ever, you’ll also get the pewter and move up to copper, silver, chance to learn many of the order’s electrum, and finally platinum.

026 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE ABOVE Venturing into these lands after 24 years is quite special, and everything looks so pretty.

LEFT Sinister things are going on and it’ll be your job to dig around, with the help of Razun-dar, to make things right again.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 027 ABOVE The Psijic order is historically selective with bringing others into their fold.

LEFT Some of the best dialogue comes from this charming cat.

028 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE PREVIEW

TESO will include the Morrowind chapter as part of the base game upon the release of Summerset

and have fun,” explains Firor. “That “The deeper you go within alone solves the problem of there being too much content. Because the city, the more of the the reason that people feel like they have to do all the content within other architecture you’ll see” games like this is so that they can get to be a high enough level so that they can be good. You don’t have to be THE SKY’S It’s a surprising amount of content high level to be good in TESO.” THE LIMIT being served up given that it feels Also included within like only yesterday since we finished Pretty things the new DLC is six the previous chapter, Morrowind, One of the first things that struck delves, two public which was equally as huge, and was during our play test was how beautiful dungeons, six world released only a year ago. We were the locations were. This newly bosses, and a curious as to how fast the team at accessible area feels fresh, and brand-new 12-player Zenimax Online Studios managed unlike anything we’ve ever visited in Trial called Cloudrest. Elder Scrolls This end-game, to turn around so much content in the franchise. Even the raid-like dungeon will such a short amount of time. “The design of the cities and buildings offer players a similar core team has been together for feel different. Where before the cities experience to that of about seven or eight years, so they and streets were full of wide open the previously offered have it down,” explains Firor. “A lot of spaces, Shimmerene – the first city Trial, Clockwork City, the problems that you run into when we visit—lies in stark contrast with in offering different making a new game is that you try to its almost labyrinthine design. With levels of difficulty for do too much. Everyone does it, it’s not centuries having passed on the island the final boss depending on which a problem. But the skill is finding the of Summerset its history can be seen other bosses you skip things that are important and keeping within the stones of its architecture. or defeat on your way those and peeling all the other stuff The High Elves are quite precious to it. Skill all the other back and dropping it. We’re way past when it comes to their heritage so bosses and you’ll be that now. We can now scope things instead of destroying old buildings taking them on along like this, and we’re pretty sure we can to build new ones, they just build with the last. hit it because we’ve done it before. on top. What you’re left with is tiers Really we’re just telling new stories, of different architecture stacked on we’re not making a whole new game top of one other. The deeper you go and that makes it easier.” within the city, the more of the ancient Players can start to feel architecture you’ll see. overwhelmed when games release All of this design is an impressive lots of content within a short space of feat for the team at ZOS given their BELOW You’ll time, and can feel like they’re unable relative lack of source materials have six new to keep up, which in turn could lead compared with their first chapter, traits to infuse them to never return to the game. Morrowind, which had a great visual into any of the jewelry that With the sheer amount of content now foundation to build upon thanks you make. available for TESO this is a potential to The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. risk but luckily TESO isn’t like other Arena offered just a pixelated map massively multiplayer online games. “If as reference, and although that we didn’t do it right, it could become helped with the island’s overall shape daunting,” explains Firor. “This is one and placement of locations ZOS of the reasons why we came up with had to get creative when it came to the term ‘Chapters’ when referring to Summerset’s appearance. For this the bigger content because it’s okay they delved deep within the series’ if you just want to play Morrowind, lore, which was also a challenge given or just want to play Summerset. that not all in game accounts of how You don’t have to do everything. Summerset looks were consistent. But of course there are those that But the final results speaks for itself will play everything, so you have to with how wonderfully Summerset is accommodate for both.” But that’s presented in this new DLC. not all, the 2016 ‘One Tamriel’ update It’s exciting to finally step foot on saw the removal of level restriction in Summerset Isle after such a long time high level areas. “The great side effect and see it in such glory, but if we’re of ‘One Tamriel’ is that you can just being honest, we’re more excited jump in and play with even the most about spending some quality time with hardcore players—as long as you’re our favorite charismatic Khajiit, good not in PVP—and you can participate old Razum-dar. Q

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 029 PREVIEW

The original release courted a massive amount of controversy in 2016

find areas where other explorers have traveled before and stumble across their discoveries. As you find more upgrades for your ship, you’ll be able to start planet- hopping, and then eventually jump No Man’s to different star systems. You’ll also find space stations inhabited by alien races you can interact with or even Sky become embroiled in ship battles. Space explorer finally gets As you explore further you’ll find odd monuments and fragments of lore the release it deserves that piece together a wider story Daniella Lucas surrounding the universe. You’ll find yourself pushing closer and closer to PUBLISHER 505 GAMES DEVELOPER HELLO GAMES the very center to see what secrets FORMAT ETA XBOX ONE SUMMER 2018 await for you there. Bags packed After a tumultuous start marred by The journey won’t be easy, however, controversy and inflated expectations as along with randomly generated back in August 2016, the expanding flora and fauna, you’ll also have to universe of No Man’s Sky has deal with extreme temperatures and undergone quite the transformation. different atmosphere types that could You might be aware of the drama prove toxic to you. You can upgrade of ‘unfulfilled promises’, as many your armor to help mitigate it a little gamers expected features such as as you go, as well as upgrading your DISTANT being able to play in multiplayer that multitool to be more powerful or FRIENDS weren’t communicated well, and was weaponized. That’ll particularly come While there’s currently talked about a great deal in gaming in handy should you encounter hostile no proper multiplayer circles at the time. But don’t worry, the sentinels—roaming robotic eyeball where you can interact with each game has changed a lot since then. things that scan you for hostile other, up to 16 people Thankfully all that fuss has put it in a actions, or just outright attack you for can share the same great position for Xbox One owners— the mistake of existing. space. You’ll appear it’s been updated loads since with The Xbox One version will include all as floating orbs to more changes on the way, meaning of the previous updates, as well as the each other, but you’ll we get the superior version right from upcoming ‘Next’ update that’s said to be able to use the get go. be the biggest one yet. That means proximity chat to talk It’s an action-adventure survival you’ll be able to build and customize with each other and game that focuses on exploration of your own base on a ‘home planet’ of explore together. Perhaps this will be randomly generated planets and solar your choosing, but if that feels too expanded on for systems. You start with a crashed ship stationary for your liking, then you release. on one planet that you need to fix can always choose to get yourself using resources you find lying about, a starship freighter to customize in but along the way you’ll find all sorts a similar way as a traveling base. of weird and wonderful creatures that Unfortunately there still isn’t a lot have also been randomly generated. of info on what else is being added, From lop-sided dinosaurs to fluffy and Sean Murray, co-founder and MD but horribly dangerous ankle-biting of Hello Games, is remaining tight- monstrosities with scuttling crab legs, lipped: “We know that there is a lot of you never know what you’ll meet next. hunger out there for news and updates Almost everything you see will be a on No Man’s Sky. We appreciate your completely new discovery for you to patience, and we promise we are name and research, although you can working hard to reward it.” After almost two years since its launch it feels like we’re finally going “You’ll be able to build to get to play the ultimate version of this beautiful universe. If you’ve your own base on a ‘home stayed away until now, this will be the perfect time to set off on a star- planet’ of your choosing” studded space journey of your own. Q

030 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE ABOVE You’ll sometimes find structures such as ship ports and research stations scattered across a planet’s surface.

LEFT These creatures might be cute, but there’s always a chance your planet will be covered in ugly ones instead.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 031 ABOVE Sat navs aren’t going to help you here.

RIGHT Here’s all four of OTWD’s playable characters— they haven’t revealed the two figures in the middle yet.

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TWD creator Robert Kirkman is fully on-board, saying it’s “the game fans have been waiting for”

key to their survival will be partnering up and working together (something Rick Grimes and co would no doubt Overkill’s concur with). How you play, however— slow and stealthy, or all guns blazin’— The Walking is up to you. It’s a no-brainer Who’d be content in an apocalypse? Dead Well, OTWD’s Aiden, apparently, the first playable character unveiled by Giving TWD fans the FPS of Overkill. Even as he steps through the their dreams… or nightmares debris of a decimated Georgetown, Vikki Blake Washington DC, it seems he’s so confident in his abilities, he’s happy PUBLISHER STARBREEZE / 505 GAMES DEVELOPER OVERKILL to deliberately draw out malingering FORMAT ETA SOFTWARE XBOX ONE FALL 2018 Walkers and introduce them to his nail-studded baseball bat. We don’t quite know what to make It took just two minutes and 29 of him just yet. It’s true that our brief seconds of a cinematic trailer for us to glimpse into his pre-apocalypse life fall for Overkill’s The Walking Dead. hints at a joyless one, depicting a We knew the game was coming, of guy frustrated by both his work and course; it was initially announced back his familial responsibilities… but we in 2014, complete with confirmation can’t help but wonder just how bad that The Walking Dead creator Robert it must’ve been for him to be chirpier Kirkman was involved, promising a now. You know, in an apocalypse. By DIRTY STUFF “completely new” co-op experience for comparison, second character Maya ”We did a lot of fans already familiar with the smash- seems a lot more frustrated by her research on how hit TV show and gruesome graphic new circumstances. She doesn’t want society and environments break novel series. to do what she has to to survive. down if no one takes Thing is, we’ve been burnt by TV But it’s not the characters that care of it,” explains tie-in games before (looking at you, intrigues us most, It’s the world lead environment Family Guy: Back To The Multiverse). around them. The backdrops and set- artist Jonatan Beyond Telltale’s breathtakingly pieces stuffed with detail, all brought Lönnqvist, talking brutal episodic games, the franchise to life by thousands of tiny world- about designing has otherwise churned out some building props; discarded suitcases, post-apocalyptic pretty mediocre titles, even though cracked glasses, the rotting remains worlds. “[When] no everything about TWD, from the of those still belted up in the cars one cuts the trees, no one cuts the lawn, weaponry and environments to the they’d hoped would take them no one picks up the stories themselves, seem so achingly someplace safe. The TWD universe trash on the street… well suited to an FPS. has always excelled in environmental where do things Enter Overkill Software. Promising a storytelling, and it seems that Overkill start to rust, where four-player, co-operative first-person wants to carry on that legacy. does mold start to shooter set within The Walking Dead “One of the most important build up?” universe (and if that sounds familiar, parts of [this job] is always to ask it’s because this is the same studio the question, ‘Why?’”, explains behind Payday 2, another four-person, environment artist Jacob Claussen co-op shooter), Overkill wants to bring in a recent behind-the-scenes us that ultimate TWD FPS. developer diary. “Why did the pool The studio promises that each of of blood happen there, or why did the four playable characters will boast someone barricade their windows? their own special abilities, skill trees, Because then you can give everything playstyles, and stories, too, but the a meaning. And if you can give everything a meaning, you can get a sense of a lived-in world.” “How you play—slow No, we’re not sure why it’s taken this long to put The Walking Dead’s and stealthy, or all guns universe into a first-person shooter, either, but we’re so glad the wait is blazin’—is up to you” nearly over. Q

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This marks only the second time a Jurassic World game has released on Xbox One

before being swiftly tranquilized by our helicopter-based on-site team. Turns out we’d neglected her social needs, and a creature so completely alone as only one separated from its own kind Jurassic by 66 million years can be has every right to get upset. World Evolution This is where things start to snowball in complexity—you have to manage “So you call it a world, when the needs of individual dinosaurs, you have to make sure there are fully it’s quite clearly a park?” equipped facilities on site to deal with “… Yes.” anything that may arise, you have to Ian Dransfield research and upgrade your park and its attractions (ie dinosaurs), and you PUBLISHER FRONTIER DEVELOPMENTS DEVELOPER FRONTIER always have to remember that the FORMAT ETA DEVELOPMENTS XBOX ONE JUNE 12 2018 entire point of this escapade is to make money. So build t-shirt shops.

Frontier has been chipping away at Chaos theory the park-and-animal based games on It’s a lot to take in, and that’s before Xbox formats for over a decade now, even thinking about the impact chaos but we might finally have its magnum can have on proceedings. A key tenet opus with Jurassic World Evolution. of the movie (and book) series, this Yes, even though it’s a movie underhanded blighter of a concept tie-in, and yes, even though it calls gets stuck in at times, bringing itself World but has you build a park. storms and sabotage your way, THE GOLD It has to be named for the movie it’s and threatening not just the simple (BLUM) releasing alongside, after all. running of your park, but the human STANDARD Evolution is the culmination of the lives located inside it. Our experience Jeff Goldblum makes British developer’s efforts, combining with a herbivore escapee was one his triumphant return a console-friendly control system, thing, but change that to a couple as Dr Ian Malcolm in Jurassic World: Fallen deep and engaging park management of Velociraptors and you’re talking a Kingdom, but we mechanics (much more fun than whole other level of threat. never expected to see that sounds), and some of the best And that’s the key thing—this isn’t him in the tie-in dinosaurs we’ve yet seen in a game. a sedate, friendly, typical movie tie-in game. Yet there he is, As well as, of course, the ability to set with no bite. It’s a proper management chatting away in your the beasts loose in your park, if you’re game from a developer with the chops ear. Malcolm offers a psychopath in waiting. to carry it off with gusto. It’s a game players some level of Players build up their park-world that you can play as a sandbox, where moral guidance as empire from humble beginnings—or you can stick with the easier islands you play, and is a welcome, um, ah, at least as humble as they can be from earlier in the game and just build presence. We’ve been when you’re literally playing god— a haven for your peaceful beasts. But teased there will be placing facilities and paths, building it’s also a game with a dark edge and more names coming enclosures and cloning low level, low a proclivity for escalation, should you to Evolution too, so threat herbivores to release into their take your eye off the ball—or dinos— keep your eyes open glorified cages. It’s a straightforward, for a time. for that. almost serene beginning, and soon Naturally there are no guarantees lures you into a false sense of security. Jurassic World Evolution will be a While it looks like nothing can go great game, and our time with it was wrong in these early stages, even we both limited and from an early version. were surprised to see a usually non- All the same, the ingredients are a threatening herbivore tear through fine mix—the right developer, the a fence and terrorize the guests, right genre, an incredible license—so our enthusiasm is high for this one. There are always going to be chaotic “A proper management elements at work, trying to make sure things don’t come to pass as you game from a developer expect them to—we’re hopeful in this particular instance the chaos will be with the chops to do it” looking the other way. Q

034 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE ABOVE The variety of dinosaur is just as impressive as in the movie.

FAR LEFT You start (relatively) small with the dinos you create, ramping up both size and danger as you progress.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 035 ABOVE Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Wait, we’ll get it— motorbike! We’re getting good at this.

RIGHT Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes. Definitely a plane, that one.

036 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE PREVIEW

Test Drive Unlimited devs Eden Games founded Ivory Tower after the former folded

What have the devs been doing in that time? They’re keeping fairly tight- lipped for the most part, but they have spoken in the past about the technical challenges of blending cars, boats, and planes: You move much faster in the air than on land, for example, and The Crew 2 that means the game engine needs to render the area in front of you at Ubi’s transforming racer a faster rate than it ever had to in reaches its final form the previous game. Elsewhere on the tech front, atmospheric clouds now this summer populate the skies, and all-new high- Phil Iwaniuk detail vegetation populates the land below. There’s even been a handling PUBLISHER UBISOFT DEVELOPER IVORY TOWER overhaul, which frankly is great news. FORMAT ETA XBOX ONE, XBOX ONE X JUNE 29 2018 The Crew had a lot going for it, but the fundamental driving experience always felt lacking next to Need For Over the years, Ubisoft has taken Speed’s simple arcade skids and the its fair share of criticism for playing more thoughtful poise of Forza. This things a bit safe with its big, time, Ivory Tower is chasing that ‘easy blockbuster franchises. to learn, hard to master’ ideal by its There’s a formula to the French own admission, but what we’ve seen publisher’s open-world games, so far is fast and loose, freeform and among other things it involves racing with a heavy leaning towards climbing towers to unlock things to the arcade. So don’t expect to be VAST do on a mini-map. So rigidly did the tweaking deadzones this June. EXPANSES publisher adhere to this formula that Crew The first game even in 2014’s The Crew, a driving All change please saw two major game, required players to find radio Don’t expect anything particularly expansions that capitalized on its towers in order to populate said mini similar to the first game, either. brilliant world map in maps. Something had to give. Although the scaled-down open- ways the base game And it did. The Crew 2 faces no world map of America is still present, never quite managed. accusations of playing safe, coloring this isn’t a story-led game, and its Wild Run made use of within the lines of an existing focus is much more on exploration all the off-road terrain blueprint, or wheeling out a tired than progressing along a narrative via monster trucks et franchise for another cash injection. path. In fact the addition of so many al, while Calling All This is a game in which the transition vehicle types—monster trucks, stunt Units (you guessed it) between cars, planes and boats planes, hypercars, Harley-Davidsons, introduced a cops and robbers element. has never been smoother—even pickup trucks, and much more Expect similarly if that means that the world itself besides—comes from some feedback ambitious has to fold, Inception-style, in order to the first game. Players felt that the post-release content to accommodate your change of story pushed them from race to race in number 2, too. transport type. without much chance to explore what It’s taken a while to get this new was, without doubt, an extraordinary vision of racing game just right open-world space. This time the though. First announced in May 2017, game’s there to encourage you into The Crew 2 was initially due for release exploring the map, which is why the in March, but needed a bit longer in absurd proposition of boat and plane development in order to hit the quality racing exists in the first place. standards Ivory Tower and Ubisoft Inevitably, with news of the release had in mind. Consequently, it’s now date comes mention of special penned in for release on June 29. editions: The Legendary Motors and Motorsports Deluxe packs both bring exclusive vehicles and driver outfits “The transition between for those who simply can’t do without those things. For the rest of us, one cars, planes and boats has of the most original racing games for years is just around the corner, and never been smoother” that’s enough. Q

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 037 PREVIEW

Although the games debuted back in 1996 this is the first time the series has come to Xbox

Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy An olive branch appears in the shape of a crazed marsupial Daniella Lucas

PUBLISHER ACTIVISION DEVELOPER VICARIOUS VISIONS FORMAT XBOX ONE ETA JULY 10 2018

After PlayStation icon Lara Croft made of levels to take down Doctor Nero as a few technical changes to keep the leap over her shiny new Xbox Vortex’s evil schemes. While you’ll be all three of them consistent, and a home there was a lot of surprise, running around on foot for most of the few new additions. Coco Bandicoot— but no one expected anything else adventure, there are also vehicle- Crash’s little sister—is now playable to follow her. But it turns out it based levels that see you flying in all three games instead of just the definitely isn’t a one-off as now planes and riding jet boards. third one, but you’ll have to unlock the spinning wild child that is Crash The remastered version has had her in each of them first. It’s a nice Bandicoot is also following suit with all of the speaking lines re-recorded addition that adds some variety to his first appearance ever on an Xbox and a brand new soundtrack, as well how you choose to play. Time trials console coming this July. Perhaps have also been added for every this is the start of a universal console level to add a new challenge and utopia—after all, Master Chief is also “Coco Bandicoot encourage speedrunning if that’s your technically on the Nintendo Switch thing and need a chance to show off too thanks to Minecraft. – Crash’s little how good you are. N Sane Trilogy features a remaster BELOW Be careful of the first three Crash Bandicoot sister—is now Change is good when jumping games, with all of the retro platforming Since it was originally released in between nostalgia glory you might remember playable in all 1996, don’t go expecting anything platforms: Leaps can be a little from the 1990s. You play as the new; it still sticks to its roots, so you fiddly to land. titular Crash as you navigate a series three games” might find yourself bumping into a few things that feel a little outdated now by modern standards. Jumping, for example, can be quite fiddly to land correctly if you’re not careful—you need to be incredibly accurate to stick a good landing without falling back from the edge of a gap. Thankfully, most of these little niggles from the old games have been ironed out for this release. It’s a great opportunity to experience a classic game that many wouldn’t have had access to before, and more options on how to play it is always a great thing. Here’s hoping those boundaries will loosen further so we get to see even more games we wouldn’t expect at some point in the near future. It would also be great to see more of the reverse so other gamers out there could experience the joys of the likes of Fable and the Rare Replay Collection. Here’s to celebrating more access for gamers all over the world. Q

038 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE PREVIEW

The dev team is made of veterans from Thief, BioShock Infinite, Dishonored and more

The Blackout Club Who watches the neighborhood watchmen? Dom Peppiatt PUBLISHER QUESTION DEVELOPER QUESTION FORMAT XBOX ONE ETA 2019

You’ve been waking up on the most compelling aspect is that it In the game, you’ll pick up different outskirts of town, covered in dirt, procedurally generates you objectives loot every time, you’ll encounter blood under your fingernails. You to fulfil. That means, despite the different enemies every time, you’ll have no recollection of what’s going constant, unnerving force that lurks have to reach different areas of the on. Scared, concerned, doubting just below the surface of the game at town, or encounter fellow (terrified) your sanity, you walk home… barely all times, no two playthroughs will be kids every time. Your main weapon summoning the courage to share the same. Think of it as the We Happy is your phone: You need to use it to the ordeal with your friends. You Few remade by the Left4Dead team, figure out what the hell is going on. realize, with horror, that this isn’t just and you’re on the right street. happening to you. Kids on the block The rest of your teenage crew are The adults in The Blackout Club don’t BELOW The living this nightmare, too. And worse “The more seem to believe the kids and their Blackout Club’s misty, yet, one of your best mates has gone concerns—well, it’s either that, or they mysterious missing. You form a club, determined evidence you simply don’t care. So you and your neighborhood to get to the bottom of this King- crew need to explore parts of your relies on its familiarity to esque mystery. You call yourselves gather, the better neighborhood and document the weird come across (wait for it) The Blackout Club. goings on in the town. creepy—like all It’s It-meets-Stranger Things- items you’ll get You’ll need intelligence, the best Stephen King horrors. meets-Cloverfield: The Game. Primarily improvization and skill to survive the a stealth game, The Blackout Club’s to use in future” night in The Blackout Club: Threats come in the form of sleepwalking locals, relatives of the kids that seem hellbent on dragging them into the town’s terrifying underbelly. In order to deter enemies and avoid abduction, you need to successfully rig diversions to throw them off the scent. Using tools such as drones, noisemakers and grappling hooks, you can outwit and outmaneuver these oddly powerful forces that really don’t like the idea you can document them. Of course, en route to finding out the truth, you’ll learn different skills and survival tactics—depending on how you perform when you’re out and about, you’ll level up back at your Club HQ. The more evidence you gather, the better items you’ll get to use in future. In The Blackout Club, no one believes you. Something is coming for you—for your friends—and no matter how loud you shout, nothing happens. So it’s time to take things into your own hands. Q

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 039 PREVIEW

The Incredibles 2 film will come out on the same day as the game

Lego The Incredibles A super fit for a super team Daniella Lucas

PUBLISHER WARNER BROS INTERACTIVE DEVELOPER TRAVELLER’S TALES FORMAT XBOX ONE ETA JULY 13 2018

Finally, the Lego crossover game have a more human focus as Elastigirl While very little about the gameplay that we’ve all been waiting for—the is called back into hero service while has been revealed so far, it’s safe fashion-forward super family that Mr Incredible is left trying to manage to expect plenty of puzzle-solving is The Incredibles are getting their his super-powered kids—easier said escapades using various character own brick-based counterparts. It than done when it involves looking powers such as stretching over gaps feels like the perfect Lego set-up, after a baby who can’t control any of to make bridges using Elastigirl, with each character having different his powers yet; a hyperactive, hyper- breaking really tough things with Mr super powers to keep the action fast young son; and a moody, psychic Incredible, and moving things with varied, while also having that normal teenage daughter. your mind as Violet. Though there’s family aspect to provide plenty of one scene from the films that we’d opportunities for jokes. love to see recreated in a game— The game itself will start by “It’s interesting where Violet uses her psychic energy following the events of the first movie to create a hamster ball-like force that originally came out in 2004, as to see the field for her younger brother Dash to well as the events of the sequel which run in and bowl people over with. We BELOW One of is due out just before the game goes game come can already picture a Super Monkey Syndrome’s on sale. That means you’ll get to Ball-style rolling level—here’s hoping deadly robots see everyone club together to face out so close that comes true. that’s designed to take out off against Syndrome’s gadgets and heroes. super robot. The second half seems to to the movie” Super suits you As well as the main family ice- manipulator, Frozone will also play a part, and you can expect an appearance from the best designer in the business, the tiny but fearless Edna Mode. With her huge personality and strict rules about capes she’s sure to have some of the best lines in the game. It’s also interesting to see the game come out so close to the movie, meaning the developers will already know everything there is to know about Incredibles 2 long before anyone else has seen it, in order to make the game. It must be a strange position to be in having to stay so quiet about something so huge for so long. With the Lego games always being great examples of family games you can play together, we’ve got high hopes for this one delivering that same level of quality with plenty of action, building, and hearty laughs along the way. Q

040 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE PREVIEW roundup

THIS MONTH, DRIVE ON THE CEILING, MUTATE YOUR SQUADMATES, AND FIGHT ALIEN INFESTATIONS DOM RESEIGH-LINCOLN

GRIP CODE VEIN ONRUSH

PUBLISHER WIRED PRODUCTIONS PUBLISHER BANDAI NAMCO PUBLISHER KOCH MEDIA DEVELOPER CAGED ELEMENT DUE 2018 DEVELOPER BANDAI NAMCO DUE 2018 DEVELOPER CODEMASTERS DUE JUNE 5 2018

Inspired by the classic racing series It might not have the word ‘Souls’ in its Having cemented itself as one of the most Rollcage—which blazed a trail with its name, but Bandai Namco is certainly taking accomplished studios for simulated racing, destruction-led physics engine, face- a few inspirations from Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Codemasters is heading back into the world meltingly fast speeds, and the ability to seminal series with the upcoming Souls- of arcade mayhem with the off-road antics drive on the walls and the ceiling—GRIP like Code Vein. Alongside its ultra-tough of OnRush. You’ll be able to take down takes those arcade principles and sends Lost bosses, you’ll be able to call in other opponents mid-race and hurtle into the them hurtling onto Xbox One with all players to assist you and your AI-controlled lead with the destructive power of boost. the manner of weapons, split-screen Revenant companion. Communication will Think of it less of a racer and more of a multiplayer, and online racing mayhem. use voice commands, gestures and ‘stamps’. high-speed brawler.

OCEANHORN 2: GENESIS ALPHA ONE MUTANT YEAR ZERO: KNIGHTS OF THE LOST REALM ROAD TO EDEN

PUBLISHER CORNFOX & BROTHERS PUBLISHER TEAM17 PUBLISHER FUNCOM DEVELOPER CORNFOX & BROTHERS DUE 2018 DEVELOPER RADIATION BLUE DUE SUMMER 2018 DEVELOPER BEARDED LADIES DUE 2018

GDC 2018 has come and gone, and with Developer Radiation Blue’s latest has Funcom and Bearded Ladies’ new project it, some brand new trailers to get our a randomized galaxy full of roguelike is going to draw comparisons to Firaxis’ mouths salivating. Finnish studio Cornfox exploration, ship-building and first-person beloved XCOM series, with its intense & Brothers did just that with its shiny new shooter action. You’ll need to expand your tactical squad gameplay, but there’s gameplay footage from action-adventure ship and fill it with cloned crew members, more to it than that. You can explore a title Oceanhorn 2. While it has been built to including the power to splice their genomes post-apocalyptic world in real time, before run on smartphones, this isn’t some budget with alien DNA found on your travels. Visit entering turn-based battles. Party members port. Its Zelda-esque mix of platforming and strange new worlds and fight off aliens in can be mutated to provide new abilities—a exploration could be one to watch in 2018. this ambitious genre mashup. duck with a sniper rifle, anyone?

FOR MORE PREVIEWS AND THE LATEST GAMES CHECK OUT GAMESRADAR.COM/OXM

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042 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER

This is the third enty in the Tomb Raider reboot series. She spent the first two games refining her skills

MAIN Solar eclipses were often associated with disaster in ancient cultures—it’s no different for Lara this year.

OXM TOOK AN EXPLORATORY TRIP TO EIDOS MONTREAL TO GET UP CLOSE WITH SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER AND TALK TO THE TEAM ABOUT LARA’S NEW, TERRIFYING ADVENTURE STEPHEN ASHBY

ear. It’s been at the core of the has been working on, play the game, and ask them Tomb Raider series since the reboot about their vision for this explosive finale. The result is in 2013, but this time, the team at a game that will feel familiar to fans of the series, but F Eidos Montreal are taking things that shows clear evolution in narrative and style. up a level. Fear is at the very core “You’re always asked what is your game in a sentence,” of Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, and explains Dan Bisson, Shadow’s creative director. “At the result is a game that will not only challenge your the time, the head of Eidos Montreal and the head of skills—it will test your nerve. Crystal Dynamics challenged me to pitch in one word. This is the final entry in Lara’s origins trilogy, and the My answer was ‘fear’.” It seeps into everything—the team plan to go out with a bang. We headed over to world around you is scarier, the tombs are more their Montreal studio last month to see what the team terrifying, and Lara herself is a figure to dread.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 043 That starts with Lara’s new abilities, clever enough to take this, and craft are kind of about nostalgia at the weapons, and skills, all of which something that’s really cool. The way same time, but you can see that she’s reflect the game world. This time, [her arsenal] evolves is almost primal, much more capable,” says Bisson. Miss Croft is journeying into Mexico rather than technical or military- Underwater exploration has also and Peru, following clues that lead to grade things.” expanded this time around. Rise had ancient Mayan and Incan ruins buried That arsenal—the pistol, shotgun, some brief underwater sections, deep in the jungles of South America. and rifle all return, along with the but in Shadow Lara will be exploring The team also teased a huge hub trusty bow—is backed up by a range underwater cave systems, and diving world—the biggest hub they’ve ever of new abilities. Aside from climbing deeper into the earth than ever made—for Lara to explore. Everywhere trees and pressing against leafy before. While Rise had you ascending, you go, the world is looking to kill you; surfaces, Lara will be covering herself and getting closer to God, in Shadow, Lara and Trinity are like a virus here, in mud, Predator-style, to hide from the opposite is true—it’s a game and the jungle is doing its best to Trinity goons, and will now be able to about descending down, exploring the push them out. hang from ropes to access new areas depths and the darkness that lives However, as you progress, Lara below those famous white cliffs. there. Hey, we said it was all about will begin to work with the things “We had her muscle up and toned fear, didn’t we? that the jungle can provide. That her muscles to ensure that she means taking cover and shimmying could do things in traversal that she Spelunking through undergrowth, clambering couldn’t do with the frame she had on The team were eager to explain that into the canopy to find materials, and Rise and Tomb Raider,” says Bisson. this fear extends to the tombs that ambushing unsuspecting enemies. Lara can abseil down surfaces if Lara will explore in Shadow, too. “The New wildlife will appear, including big needed, too, and even run along the tombs have evolved even more from cats. And Lara’s weapon upgrades will cliff, while hanging from the rope, Rise—I worked on the tombs in Rise. use materials she finds in there, too. before jumping off to another surface. Fear is really the core lens for the “What I love and what makes sense Sounds familiar, right? “These [moves] game, so what we’ve done is we’ve in the Tomb Raider universe is, like, you’re not going to find a bazooka against a tree,” laughs gameplay “We had her muscle up to director Vincent Monnier. “Everything BELOW Shadow’s has to make sense. You’re using your gameplay feels environment, and that’s what makes ensure that she could do quite familiar— we’re hoping for you different to the Trinity guys, more next time who are out of their element. You’re things she couldn’t before” we see it.

044 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER

LARA’S EVOLUTION

TOMB RAIDER RELEASE 2013 KEY LOCATIONS YAMATAI The first of the modern reboots set the stage for new-look Lara

Lara goes on an expedition to find the lost island of Yamatai somewhere near Japan. Still very much an inexperienced and insecure graduate, Lara is forced to react to terrible situations on the island in order to survive. As you can see from the game’s artwork, Lara is wounded, scared, and vulnerable, but still dedicated to her cause. During the course of the story she shrugs off the idea that she’s following in her father’s footsteps—“I’m not that kind of Croft”—but as she endures the world and does what it takes to survive, it starts to shape her.

RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER RELEASE 2015 KEY LOCATIONS SYRIA,SIBERIA

The second entry sees Lara get into the swing of tomb-raiding

Rise introduces a more confident, bold Lara. The artwork shows her still at the threshold of a cave, intrigued by what’s inside, but still slightly hesitant to enter. Lara is still insecure, but wants to explore, and as she does so she begins to define herself. She’s a Croft, and she starts to grow into that name as the game progresses, often putting herself in danger. She’s more daring, and more deadly, but the world is still scary, and there are plenty of times where she’s forced to fight for her life. At the end of the game, she learns that it was Trinity that killed her father…

SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER RELEASE 2018 KEY LOCATIONS MEXICO, PERU

The final entry in the trilogy see Lara a bit too overconfident with her skills

The end of Lara’s origins story will see her truly become a Tomb Raider. After years of experience she’s more powerful, capable, calculating, and scary than ever. She’s also far more confident—even overconfident, which can cause problems. She’s more hardened this time around, knows what it means to survive, and is trying to find her place in the world. She knows that she has skills now, but what does she do with them? This is also a story of justice, as Lara sets out to stop Trinity, and make them pay for killing her dad.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 045 1

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THE MIGHTY JUNGLE

1 TONED UP 2 ON A LEVEL 3 ON THE HUNT 4 GETTING CRAFTY Lara is more muscular Level designer Arne Animals and wildlife have Crafting has been this time around. The Oehme told us about the been a big part of Tomb expanded this time team made her physically difficulties of designing Raider since the very around—the on-the-fly and visually stronger levels that make sense first titles, and you crafting has more options to allow her to pull off to players. “Tomb Raider can expect more exotic to utilize, but reach more powerful moves more is about keeping the creatures this time a campfire and you’ll believably. Want to hang flow going,” he said. around. So far we’ve only have plenty of choice, off a rope 80 feet above “Making something that’s seen these bats and a big too. Weapons and outfits a bunch spiky rocks? No challenging and fun, but cat (and that was in a will still feature, but problem—check out those doesn’t basically stop you menu screen), but as we’re the team said they would guns! We’ll be taking gym in your tracks. We have to in the jungle, things be “more personal” in pointers from her next. playtest a lot.” should get pretty weird. Shadow. Intriguing…

I love seeing how Lara has I’ve got a holiday in Mexico I must admit to a soft spot evolved over the series and planned for later this year, for the Lara of old, but OXM I can’t wait to play as her at though hopefully my trip they certainly seem to be SAYS her peak, even if things do won’t be as apocalyptic beavering away on this go wrong. After seeing one as Lara’s seems to be. one to make it a hotbed of the few classic women It’s great to see her start of intrigue and physical gaming icons go through a to get overconfident and excellence. I think it may be Daniella bit of a seedy phase, this Adam make mistakes. All the best Russell a bigger hit than the recent Lucas feels like redemption. Bryant characters have flaws. Lewin Tomb Raider movie.

046 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER

made sure that everything is actually terrifying,” says Monnier. “It’s not only the way you go, but what you see. The puzzle and the physical elements are designed to actually kill you, so when you manipulate something it’s not only solving the puzzle. You have to be clever, you have to look around and say, ‘okay, should I be touching that right now, or should I secure something?’ and that’s what I love.” We only saw one tomb in our playthrough, and to be honest it wasn’t all that terrifying. It featured a simple puzzle involving moving, weighted platforms and a cart that we had to use to knock a new route into place. It was classic Tomb Raider, and really we were left wanting a little more—it all felt a little too familiar. Still, we only played through a section at the very start of the game—this is really just a taster for what the rest of the game will offer. What was scarier was the route in and out of the tomb itself. After dangling down over a rock that looked like a skull, we entered like that, you have to make it quiet a dark corridor with odd decorations gradually so you don’t notice before hanging from above. The wind was something like that happens, so it rushing in through cracks in the rock, feels bigger when it does occur,” he darkness surrounded us, and we’re explains. “There are a lot of things not ashamed to admit we were a little like that where we’ve worked with freaked out. the narrative, and worked with the As it turned out, this was partly flow and the game design to craft thanks to the creepy sound design, those moments and make them feel as audio director Rob Bridgett later more intense.” explained. “One of the things we’re The same goes for the story itself, doing is using a musical score that and the emotional beats that the isn’t what you’d traditionally expect team are trying to hit. The section we here. We’re using a lot of South played begins with Lara and Jonah American instruments and textures. (yep, the loveable guy is back) having

BELOW This is just another “What we’ve done is we’ve bad day for Lara. That lady just cannot made sure that everything catch a break. is actually terrifying”

We also found that a lot of those a beer in a small Mexican town during sounds also work in the context of Día de los Muertos—Day of the Dead. a sound effect. We can put some of The pair are following the research those sounds in a tomb, and have of Lara’s father, and Trinity are also them as actual sounds in that space. in the area. We start by exploring the So we hope the player is unsure about town and looking for clues, and oh what is sound and what is music, my god it’s one of the coolest gaming and there’s a feeling of fear and environments we’ve seen in a while. uncertainty.” Rob, let us tell you now: It’s dusk. The town is filled with You’ve bloody nailed it. people talking, music playing and Of course, this wouldn’t be TR friends dancing in beautiful orange without a few jump scares, and that’s torchlight. The attention to detail is another element that Bridgett has incredible, and the world feels real. worked on. “Building to a moment We could’ve explored this tiny area for

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 047 an hour, but soon we spotted a Trinity he’s going to have to fix her mess. agent, and the mission took priority. Wait. Are Trinity… goodies? Still, when was the last time you Turns out the Mayans really don’t watched Lara Croft looking relaxed, mess about, because at this point the laughing with a friend and having a first disaster—a flood—hits, sparking beer? It feels like a slow start, but one of the biggest set-pieces of there’s a very good reason for that— any Tomb Raider game to date. We like the gradual build to a jump-scare, are washed down streets that have this is the calm before the storm. “In turned to rapids, dodging pylons and ABOVE Who needs guns when order to make something scary on- grabbing car doors to slow down. We you’re a badass screen, you have to have these lighter swim past the corpses of locals in with a bow. moments as well. These moments submerged shops in a fantastically LEFT Wading that are emotionally very different to eerie and heart-wrenching scene. We through murky that, just so you can feel it,” muses leap across rooftops as trucks wash water is tame Bridgett. “You’ve got Jonah and Lara past, destroying things as they go, for Lara. having a very relaxed conversation until we breathlessly reach Jonah. BELOW With so and getting excited about something. It’s quite an introduction. many skulls around it’s no They’re in this safe marketplace, and The end of our demo sees Lara surprise this the music is very happy and positive, desperate to follow Dominguez, turns deadly. and you almost need that in order reclaim the dagger and save the to go to where we take it. You need world. After all, she caused all this… these moments of light in order to give didn’t she? “She’s really forced to you that darkness.” confront her own complicity, and the question of how you can be It’s personal complicit in something when you And boy does it get dark. Fast-forward always had good intentions,” script back through the marketplace, writer Jill Murray tells us. “I think that’s down into the skull rock, through the endlessly interesting to explore.” creepy cave, and across the weighted Jonah is more concerned with helping platforms. After solving that first the injured survivors, and the result puzzle, Lara finds a dagger on a stone is an emotionally-charged scene that plinth. She’s unsure whether to take sees Jonah roar, “NOT EVERYTHING IS it, and Jonah tells her to leave it, but ABOUT YOU!” when she hears Trinity closing in, she grabs it. Bad idea. The tomb starts shaking, and Lara turns around to see paintings on the stone behind her depicting the Mayan apocalypse, marked by four natural disasters. Uh oh. Did Lara Croft just trigger the end of the world? No time to find out. Run! After exiting the cave, we come across more Trinity guards, and a very familiar shootout scenario plays out. There isn’t much new here— on-the-fly crafting is still A Thing, and shooting red barrels makes a very pretty explosion. It’s classic Tomb Raider, without much of the evolution we expected. Again, this is the start of the narrative, and more importantly this isn’t in a jungle, so we didn’t get to play with any of her Arnie-inspired abilities. Unfortunately for Lara, despite us easily taking out the goons, she’s almost immediately overrun by more of Trinity’s henchmen, along with their leader—Dominguez. He asks Lara for the dagger, and a mysterious (and probably apocalypse-stopping) box, but when he realizes she only has the dagger, things get a little weird. Dominguez blames Lara for causing the apocalypse, and storms off saying

048 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER

PLAYING CATCHUP

A refresher course on the last two Tomb Raider games

2003 Richard Croft dies Lara’s father passes away. It’s staged to look like a suicide, but Trinity is responsible for his death. At the time, Lara’s relationship with her father was strained—she saw his work as fantasy.

2013 Yamatai expedition After graduating from uni, Lara and her colleagues go on an expedition to find the lost kingdom of Yamatai. After their boat is damaged during a storm, Lara must save her friends from the islanders.

2013 Realization “When we wrote scenes we ABOVE The team After battling across the used the extra island, Lara comes face to power of the face with the ancient goddess tried to leave a lot of room Xbox One X to push the Himiko, and realizes that her graphical father’s research isn’t as for the actors to perform” performance to foolish as she thought. She the maximum. vows to investigate further. “When you see what Dr Dominguez Dozois agrees. “We also worked is saying, it’s like they both have very closely with the performance 2015 honorable intensions, it’s just the capture director, who was actually a Kitezh methodology that is wrong,” explains member of our team, as opposed to After finding a clue in her Jason Dozois, Shadow’s narrative being hired as an outside,” he says. dad’s writings, Lara heads to director. “Jonah’s point of view is just “Together we helped structure the the hidden city of Kitezh in questioning ‘are you responsible for story so when you go and shoot, you Siberia, where an artefact this? You don’t know that, it’s just have that freedom to work with the granting immortality may hide. what someone said to you.’ To me it’s actors, and maybe improvise a line to A violent sect called Trinity are great drama, because everyone thinks take the scene further. The one on the hot on her tail, though… they’re right to an extent, but they’re rooftop is one that came back with an all slightly wrong.” excellent result. We thought it was a 2015 great scene, but when you see that The truth is out Acting out take and what Jonah is doing, it’s After destroying the This emotional scene rounds off an such a powerful moment. Camilla’s immortality-bringing artefact action-packed segment, leaving us face when they captured that, that’s to stop Trinity from capturing it with a clear indicator of how the rest her natural, surprised reaction to that and taking over the world, of the game will shape up. Camilla take, and that comes off so well. We Lara discovers that the Luddington returns as Lara, of course, knew it was something very special.” organization is responsible for and through a combination of script It’s a fitting end to our day with her father’s death. and performance capture the team Lara’s next adventure. We’re left with hopes this will be the most powerful, plenty of questions, and a huge desire 2018 believable Lara we’ve seen yet. to see more. We’re still yet to see the Mexico/Peru “When we wrote the scenes this updated crafting, combat, and stealth Desperate to stop Trinity, Lara time, we tried to leave a lot of room for that the team is promising, or what and Jonah head for Mexico, the actors to perform,” says Murray. ‘becoming one with the jungle’ really where the organization is “You can only take the script so far means. There’s still plenty that they working with archaeologists to on the page and at that point it’s the couldn’t say—which means the next find something hidden nearby. actors that bring life to it—but in order few months will be most interesting. Is she also there for revenge? for them to bring life to it, you have to Stay tuned to OXM for more on the final Time will tell… let them practise their craft.” segment of Lara’s origins trilogy. Q

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Current voice of Lara, Camilla Luddington, once played Kate Middleton, in William & Kate: The Movie

WE DISCUSS LARA’S MOTIVATIONS, MULTIPLAYER, AND MEXICO WITH GAME DIRECTOR DAN BISSON AND SENIOR PRODUCER MARIO CHABTINI

Mexico was teased as the next location at What were the key historical influences you the end of the previous game. What kind used when creating the world and the story of freedoms did you have when it came to for Shadow? choosing the specific locations within that DB: For the world itself it was a lot of things. geographical area? I got married in Mexico, so that also helped Daniel Bisson: I was on Rise at the time, and [laughs]. We had a lot of people go to Mexico we knew before Rise was finished where we and Peru. We have historians working on the wanted to go for this game. game, and linguistic experts, which you see in the introduction. We really wanted to make Mario Chabtini: This was a setting where we sure we were very respectful of the culture. could push our new Lara. That was the most There’s a reason in the story for that, and important thing. you’ll see once you get into the story. After the flood it goes crazy… but I’ll stop there. So So did you always have Mexico in mind, from it was really important for us to be respectful the start of the whole trilogy? of the culture, and especially of the language. DB: No, that came up later on. We tried to do For the jungle we did a lot of research. There something different. After Yamatai, we said are some magnificent things called Planet ‘what is the most dangerous place?’ The Earth and Planet Earth II, and stuff on the team are in California, so of course snow is web. As we were exploring more of the jungle very frightening [laughs], so we said let’s go we realized it was the right choice because with snow. Noah (Hughes) was the creative it’s the most dangerous place in the world. director on Rise and we were working together, and he said ‘now you’re going to be Of course Trinity is involved again, but it also the creative director on Shadow—where do seems that Lara is the cause of this huge, you want to take it?’ We started talking about cataclysmic event… it and I said I would love to take it to South DB: She is. There’s no question about it. It’s America. He said okay, and he asked whether a consequence of her actions. This is her it was okay if he put it at the end of the game. defining moment—this is where she becomes I said ‘that’s fine!’ because we didn’t want a Tomb Raider—but to do that she needs to to stop the story there, we wanted to have learn a lot about consequences. It’s the kind continuity between the two. Even though of thing she would do in Rise, but it wouldn’t we want people to play Shadow without really have a lot of consequences, she was having played the two previous ones and still follow the story and understand it, for the fans we wanted to make sure there was this continuity between the two.

And then you could choose where to go beyond that, and you chose to go to Peru as well? DB: Yeah, although we explored a lot of places. But we said North America, Mexico, then we went to Peru.

050 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE more reacting to the consequences of the DB: But there are no two pistols. I’ll be direct this is Lara’s defining moment, this is her actions of others. In this case we wanted with that. ‘Are there going to be dinosaurs in personal journey, and an emotional journey— to start the story solidly by saying ‘your the game?’ NO! No dinosaurs! [laughs] it helps a lot when we’re saying ‘how can we obsession is causing this’. bring emotion not just through the dialogue Oh man, we’re so disappointed! [laughs] but through her actions?’ In the flood, for And what about the mysterious voice we What about her skills—we’ve talked about example, you’re feeling something completely heard at the end of Rise? Will we get to find rappelling, are there other things she can different, or when you’re rappelling down out more about them this time around? do now, too? and there’s a skull in the rock, you have this DB: [laughs] Yeah, you’ve probably already DB: Yes, a lot of things. I can say, though, emotion. For me, I see the world, and the seen him. that what we call the secondary system—the character’s place in it, and the dialogue has a survival system—everything that she’s doing way to express all of this emotion. Okay, we’ll leave that there. Will she get in Rise, like crafting, finding resources… we’re double pistols in this game? It was a cool exploding that way more. The RPG element is Did you do a lot of mo-cap with actors and moment in the first Tomb Raider but fans are way stronger, because we want you to create actresses for the game? Is it pretty much all still desperate to dual-wield… the type of Lara you want to create. It also mo-cap? DB: I would say everything is mo-cap. Camilla [Luddington] is the heart and soul of this game, and is very important. Of course, we “We tried something different. didn’t throw her off a cliff [laughs], so there are moments that are less mo-capped. We After Yamatai, we said ‘what is did push real people… they didn’t come back the most dangerous place?’” to complain so we’re okay [laughs]. Mario, am I right in thinking that a lot of your work at Ubisoft was focused on the DB: No. I don’t want that. For us this is her showcases how she’s much more confident multiplayer aspects of the game? Does that defining moment… but we’re not going to put and in control now, so we’ve expanded that mean we can expect to see a full multiplayer her in shorts with double-pistols, wearing a lot more. mode return in Shadow Of The Tomb Raider? a bikini; that’s not what this is. It’s because MC: We won’t have competitive multiplayer, the twin pistols have an iconic thing about Dan, we know you’ve worked on a lot but we’ll have extended gameplay that we’ll them. For this trilogy—not saying anything of mo-cap, audio etc, as well as more talk more about later. about later on, I don’t know about future narrative things. Does having such a varied titles—but for this trilogy the bow is still her background help when it comes to working DB: We think fans will be pleased. We’ve signature weapon. as a game director? listened to the fans, and we’re adding a new DB: It is helping, for multiple reasons. It’s twist to it that we’ll be talking about later. I’ll MC: If you’re thinking that the two guns are funny that you said that because on a let your imagination go wild. a representation of Lara being really driven, previous project when I was at Ubisoft a long then you can be sure that we will be providing time ago—I’ve been on this project for eight Nothing like the original 2013 game, then? a version of Lara that’s really driven with years—I was doing a lot of directing of mo- DB No, nothing like that. It is something we Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. cap. Where it does help, is where we’re saying tried. Q

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OXM speaks to the professionals about exactly what game engines are, which ones they use, and how they work ADAM BRYANT

Frostbite, Unity, you’ll likely get ten different answers. Unreal… we’ve Yet game engines are the most crucial all heard of their part of in-game development, because names, and seen until a team obtains or creates one, the jaw-dropping, almost everything in the pipeline is put beautiful demos that on hold. Despite this, for most people showcase their tech outside the games industry they and highlight advancements in lighting, remain a mysterious entity. So join us animation, physics, and particle as we clear out the grime and sediment effects, but what are they really? Ask to give you a clear idea of just what ten different people what one is, and game engines are capable of… More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 053 OXM INVESTIGATES W

ell, what are game engines? “Simply put, a game engine is a platform for your game ABOVE See all to run on; to load the world, place you in it, that lush and accommodate your stay,” explains CD foliage? The game engine is Projekt Red’s tech team. “There are many what’s helping kinds of engines. Depending on your game’s animate it. requirements, each one will differ in how much work it actually does. They render (display) the world, calculate physics, play sounds, and more. Engines are all the code that is not specific to your game, and can potentially be reused in a different title.” By having an engine that already has ways tailored for a specific experience,” explains of knowledge and experience. Moreover, of handling things like rendering, physics, the CD Projekt Red Tech team. “Our games before the core of your engine is ready, lighting, and artificial intelligence straight focus on creative storytelling in a living and gameplay systems cannot be built on top. out of the box, it makes creating character breathing world, so we required an engine So there’s a lot of pressure and little luxury models and having them behave in a given and tools suited for these particular to polish one small element of the engine way quickly achievable. Such game engines experiences. After careful consideration, we for an extended period of time. Also, when allow development teams to focus on actually arrived at the conclusion that third-party we encounter an obstacle, we have no other making their games rather than having to software wouldn’t cut it. It would probably option than to rely on ourselves and fix it. No essentially reinvent the wheel every time take longer to adjust a commercial engine outside support is possible, whereas for the they wish to do so. It’s also one of the main to our needs than just make our own from commercially available engines out there it’s reasons why new developers will opt for using scratch. So that’s what we did.” Having an sometimes offered.” engines that are readily available for free, engine specifically tailored to suit their games Even those that have any idea of what such as Unity or the Unreal Engine. allows CDPR to have an unprecedented level a game engine is tend to oversimplify They’re also designed to have a modular of control over every aspect of development their role, thinking they’re responsible for nature so that it makes it possible to improve or adjust an engine’s functionality by employing additional software, referred “A modern open-world engine is to as ‘middleware’. This type of software is designed to deal with specific tasks—such as a big beast. Taming it requires a Audiokinetic’s audio engine, Wwise, or Nvidia’s PhysX engine, which handles physics—that lot of knowledge and experience” the original engine might not be able to perform quite as well. There are even some software companies that will provide an so that they could accomplish any goal they just one aspect of a game, like graphics engine’s entire source code so that more set. And having their designers in constant or performance. This results in many advanced developers can directly manipulate cooperation with the programmers meant misconceptions. “I think the biggest it to fit their needs. they were able to adapt the engine to better misconception about game engines is that suit their needs. they are some sort of magical piece of Coping mechanism However, as you can imagine, this isn’t a software powered by the blood of unicorns But sometimes, despite all the availability task for the faint-hearted. “Creating your that can make any game into a reality with and flexibility of these engines, developers own engine requires a lot of work and a just a few mouse clicks,” explains senior will need to spend the extra time and money dedicated team of professionals,” says CDPR. developer relations technical artist, Zak in designing their own, like CD Projekt Red did “A modern open-world engine is a big and Parrish. “The truth is that there’s no ‘Make for their REDengine. “Each game engine is complicated beast. Taming it requires a lot Game’ button in Unreal Engine and you will

054 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE LITTLE ENGINES THAT COULD

THE GAME ENGINES OF YESTERYEAR THAT ARE NO LONGER WITH US

SCUMM (1987) LucasArts The original ‘Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion’ was developed by the legendary Ron Gilbert. Besides being used to create Maniac Mansion, it was also used on The Secret Of Monkey Island. still have a lot of work to do to make your game into a playable experience. Making XnGine (1990) games is a profession for the passionate.” Bethesda Softworks But the biggest misconception of all seems The first game to use to be the belief that problems within a game, this engine was The like performance, frame rate, and crashing, Terminator: Future are the fault of the game engine, when in Shock but maybe more fact this is almost never the case and is more memorable was TESII: Daggerfall. TESIII: likely a programming problem. Morrowind was also supposed to use this engine but another was used instead. Totally Unreal Possibly the most well known of all game Freescape (1987) engines is Epic Game’s Unreal Engine, which best, so if you’re interested in venturing into Incentive Software was used to develop the immensely popular the world of game development and creating The hugely popular Fortnite, and was apparently pivotal to its your very own Fortnite, here’s some parting Driller was the first to success. “Fortnite has been a labor of love at advice: “Don’t wait, don’t make excuses; just use the Freescape Epic,” says Parrish. “We’ve worked on it for a go make a game,” says Parrish. “Honestly, my engine, which itself long time to turn it into the game it is today. first bit of advice for aspiring devs right now was one of the first 3D engines. Like most Every part of that process—every refactor, is to fully grasp that there has never been of the older game engines of the time, every overhaul of a major system, every a better time to learn game development. Freescape had a fairly short lifespan. outright replacement of a series of game If you’re new to the game dev world, you mechanics—was only possible due to the probably have no idea that you’re in a real Adventure Game flexibility afforded by Unreal Engine. golden age right now. You have so much Interpreter (1984) “The result is a game that serves as a technology and opportunity at your fingertips: Sierra On-Line solid platform upon which we can Free game engines like Unreal, free 3D apps, AGI was created solely continuously expand and build,” continues free 2D apps, tons of free training on how for the golden age Parrish. “Every key aspect that is Fortnite: to do things… I look back at when I was first classic King’s Quest, The robust and evolving Save the World learning this stuff and I’m floored. but went on to be used in 14 other games. experience, new game modes such as battle “There’s really nothing stopping an aspiring It had good runnings, but was eventually royale that didn’t exist at early access launch, developer right now from just making a game replaced with Sierra’s Creative Interpreter. the release of the game on every conceivable and shipping it,” Parrish continues. “Sure, if platform from high-end PC to console all you’re by yourself you have to limit your scope Jedi (1995) the way to mobile devices, even the ability a bit, but if you want shipping experience— LucasArts to keep new content rolling for players at a the exact experience studios care about—you This was used to virtually constant pace, every part of that can build a game and launch it on just about create two games, development process has been powered and any platform these days, all without much, Star Wars: Dark Forces streamlined by Unreal Engine.” or any, money out of your own pocket. And and Outlaws. It could There are now plenty of game engines from tools to source code to tons of training be mistaken for the id Tech engine, which available for free, some of which you’ll see on content, Epic Games and Unreal Engine are was used for Doom, but it just used similar the next page in our rundown of some of the behind you all the way.” Q techniques to emulate 3D environments.

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Games in 07 the machine UNITY The Unity engine has become increasingly TAKE A LOOK AT SOME popular over the years and is now synonymous with indie game development. This is largely OF THE BEST ENGINES due to the fact that, just like the Unreal AROUND AND THE GAMES engine, it’s available to download for free, and anybody that wants to try their hand at game THEY’VE SPAWNED 08 development, can. There’s also a tremendous amount of support from the development FROSTBITE community who provide a wealth of dedicated Game engines are becoming more and more EA’s powerhouse of an engine has been tutorials. Firewatch, Yooka-Laylee, Cuphead, sophisticated every day, and developers are used in more and more of its games since and the upcoming Ooblets and Ori And The Will continuously taking advantage of them to starting out in the Battlefield series, Of The Wisps are just a small fraction of games make games that leave us in awe. Whether where now it is being used exclusively. that have used this engine. And then in the it’s a pixel-art side-scrolling adventure It has predominantly been used for non-videogame world, the luminous likes of game, a sweeping science fiction first- creating fantastic first-person shooters, Disney, Coca-Cola, Nasa, and Lego are also person shooter, a poignant walking most recently Battlefield 1 and Star Wars registered Unity users. simulator, or even an enchanting fantasy Battlefront II, but over the years it’s been RPG, there’s a game engine that helped continuously improved and pushed in make that game a reality. Here’s a rundown different directions to work with other of some of the best while highlighting some genres, such as racing, sports, and of the games they’ve helped unleash. And RPG titles. The engine is also known for given that some are available for absolutely being hefty enough to be able to handle nothing, you can even try your hand at complex destructible environments and creating a game of your own. huge multiplayer matches. BioWare’s Anthem will be the next game to take advantage of the engine. 06 04 CRYENGINE GAMEMAKER STUDIO 2 The CryEngine developed by Crytek Games like the gorgeous Hyper Light has been used to make many popular Drifter and the frustratingly addictive titles including Far Cry, State Of Decay, 10 Second Ninja X used this engine, Ryse: Son Of Rome, Prey, Evolve, and and have both seen huge success. The the upcoming Hunt: Showdown. Ubisoft greatest thing about GameMaker Studio Montreal designed a heavily modified is that it utilizes an easy to use drag and version, called Dunia, to continue the drop system so that anyone wishing to Far Cry series with Far Cry 2. This allowed 05 try their hand at game development can them to create an open-world game, and probably throw something together with added a bunch of new improvements, ID TECH 6 little fuss. It also has its own scripting such as destructible environments, Each of the id Tech engines created by id language, to develop more complex dynamic weather systems, night and Software are unique, but they all have an games. This has prompted it to become day cycles, and realistic fire simulations, immense shared history. The first engine the go-to engine for amateur developers. which brought out the pyromaniac in all was originally named the ‘Doom’ engine and While it is entirely possible to make of us. Later games in the series used the used to make the first two Doom games. limited 3D games using this engine, most updated Dunia 2 engine. Now it is in its sixth iteration, and has people use it to make 2D games. been used to create the Doom reboot and Wolfenstein: The New Colossus. Many games series have id Software’s engine to thank for their development, such as the immensely successful Call Of Duty with its IW engine, and Half-Life, Portal, and Team Fortress with the Source engine; both of these engines can be traced back to the id Tech 2 engine.

056 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 03 02 REDENGINE CREATION ENGINE This first-party engine created by CD Projekt Red was used from The The Gamebryo engine, created by the now defunct Numerical Witcher 2 onwards. Their current engine, REDengine 4, is currently being Design Limited, had been used to develop a range of different titles used to develop the eagerly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077. The engine including Bethesda Game Studios’ The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was created from the group with open-world RPGs in mind, so it allowed and Fallout 3. However, Bethesda ultimately decided to develop them to create large, open worlds that had a better draw distance and its own Creation Engine to make subsequent games, as it felt that better AI handling for the bustling cities that we’ll see. They managed to Gamebryo’s graphics capabilities were outdated. The result was an create a spectacular game with The Witcher 3, with the REDengine 3, so engine that not only had better graphical capabilities but better AI, who knows what extra capabilities the fourth iteration will offer. world-building, animations and draw distances.

01 UNREAL ENGINE Developed by Epic Games, this engine is probably the most well known of all the ones previously mentioned. If anyone has ever heard about game engines, it’s likely that they’ve been made aware of or have seen one of the many tech demos the company regularly release. A ridiculous amount of developers have taken advantage of the Unreal Engine to develop their games; a few notable mentions are the Gears Of War series, Batman Arkham series, Mass Effect trilogy, and more recently Sea Of Thieves, PlayUnknown’s Battlegrounds, and Fortnite, but the list could go on. Not only is it being used extensively in videogames, it’s also frequently used in movies and television. Now available for free to anyone wishing to develop their own games, all that is required is that you pay 5% on what you make from the game once it ships. So what are you waiting for? Q

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YOUR ATTENTION IN 2018 JOSH WEST

he coming year is And it’s all thanks to the ID@Xbox absolutely full of amazing programme making it easier for smaller indie games coming to developers to get their games on the T Xbox One. It’s part of why console. We already saw how big they could we love the console so get last year thanks to the amazing Cuphead, much—alongside all of the but what’s on the horizon this year? We’ve big show-stealers, you’ll find plenty of other taken a look at some of the best ID@Xbox titles that are just as worthy of your time. games coming your way in 2018.

058 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE ID@XBOX SHOWCASE

WARHAMMER: VERMINTIDE 2 DEVELOPER FATSHARK / RELEASE DATE SUMMER 2018 It’s hard to believe, but Left 4 Dead 2 came into our lives nine long years ago. We’ve spent a lot of that time (too much to admit, to be honest, not without shaming ourselves first) looking for the next truly excellent co-operative adventure. We may have finally found it in Warhammer: Vermintide 2. It doesn’t matter whether you’re obsessed with the tabletop foundations of Warhammer or wouldn’t know your Skaven from your Lizardmen; this is a fantastic first-person fantasy romp that doesn’t discriminate. Well, unless you’re a Skaven, because the disgusting hordes of rat creatures are the primary antagonists for you and your friends to band together against—using teamwork, deadly melee weapons, and the occasional spell to split skulls and generally do your best to survive against increasingly insurmountable odds. Vermintide 2 was a huge success when it launched on PC earlier in the year, and developer Fatshark has done a fantastic job with the Xbox One port; the AI is ferocious, it looks stunning, and the controls are surprisingly well optimized. Vermintide 2 may just be the best co-op game of 2018.

DAYZ DEVELOPER BOHEMIA INTERACTIVE / RELEASE DATE 2018

Bohemia Interactive’s influential zombie survival game was only announced for Xbox One back in December of 2017, but given how the PC version has been wading through the mires of Early Access for five years with no end in sight, we had assumed this would be a way off. But there it was, ready for us to play; honestly, we could hardly believe it either. What wasn’t a total surprise, however, was how excellent the game is to play. DayZ’s capacity for generating incredible emergent stories is practically unrivalled. It is, after all, the ultimate zombie apocalypse survival simulator. You’re left to acquire items and equipment on a sprawling island, form uneasy alliances with other players you stumble across out in the world, and fend for yourself by any means necessary—death, be it by player or zombie, means losing everything and going back to the beginning. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Fortnite players will also want to pay attention; track back the history of the battle royale genre, and you’ll discover that it’s inseparable from DayZ—you’ll find out why that is soon, as it launches into Game Preview later this summer. Start getting excited.

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SINNER: SACRIFICE FOR REDEMPTION DEVELOPER DARK STAR / RELEASE DATE 2018 Sinner makes Dark Souls feel about as confrontational as a civilized Sunday gathering. This game is all about the boss battles; it pushes you between eight distinct (and brutal) enemies, although it also forces you to sacrifice strength and stats between each and every one of them. That’s right, the game levels you down between each of its encounters, meaning that the further you get through it, the more difficult it will literally SUPER MEAT BOY FOREVER become. Ouch. DEVELOPER TEAM MEAT / RELEASE DATE 2018 Turning our beloved Super Meat Boy into an auto- ever imagined to play. Super Meat Boy Forever runner should never have worked. The XBLA may strip control of forward momentum away classic prioritized control and movement above from you, but that just gives Team Meat the all else, its success hinged on your ability to freedom to improve just about everything else. cautiously pursue safe lines of passage through The level design is sublime, the physics engine an ever-escalating cauldron of misery. And yet, feels better—ensuring the jumps and movement here we are, with the long-awaited sequel in our feels as perfectly weighted as ever—and the hands, and it feeling better than we could have challenge is no less intoxicating.

STARBOUND CITY OF BRASS DEVELOPER CHUCKLEFISH / RELEASE DATE 2018 DEVELOPER UPPERCUT GAMES / If you aren’t familiar with it, Starbound is RELEASE DATE JUNE 4 2018 effectively a cool blend of Minecraft, Stardew What happens when a bunch of former Valley, and Terraria—and listen, if that doesn’t BioShock developers band together and decide catch your attention, nothing will. With a they want you to rampantly explore an Arabian procedurally generated universe there for Nights-inspired location with sword and whip the taking, this is a sandbox game where in hand? Well, you have a fab time, that’s you’re free to pursue exploration, crafting, or DESCENDERS what! City Of Brass has you pushing through combat; it’s all about the establishment of new a procedurally generated city gathering loot, DEVELOPER RAGESQUID / RELEASE DATE 2018 colonies, resource acquisition, and battling cracking bad guys in the face with your whip, against any enemies that would want to do High octane fun that doesn’t turn your and trying to conquer 12 levels across four you hard. It controls great on Xbox One, and we stomach upside down; what more could city districts. The procedural elements are can’t wait to see what the community does we possibly ask for from Descenders? surprisingly well implemented, while the flow of once it has this one in its hand for a few weeks. This downhill mountain bike game is combat has certainly caught our attention. entering Xbox Game Preview this summer, and from what we’ve played of it we’re certain it’s going to turn some heads. The controls are tight and the physics are excellent; playing this ridiculous game in first-person is unlike anything else we’ve found on Xbox this generation. Easy to learn but difficult to master, Descenders is a stunt game all about making use of every opportunity that comes your way, busting out mad tricks with guile and precision.

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FLIPPING DEATH HUNTDOWN DEVELOPER EASY TRIGGER AB / RELEASE DATE 2018 DEVELOPER ZOINK GAMES / RELEASE DATE 2018 We expected big things from Flipping Death. There’s something to be said about the Come on, it’s the spiritual successor to the super simplicity of old-school arcade shooters. fun (and only slightly unhinged) Zoink Games Huntdown is a hard-boiled action game release Stick It To The Man, how could we expect drenched in an ’80s aesthetic; designed to anything less? Thankfully, Flipping Death is just mirror classics from the 16-bit era, Huntdown as ridiculous—you know, in an awesome sort of sees you taking on the role of one of three way. With Death on vacation, it’s down to you HAROLD bounty hunters and running, jumping and to help trapped ghosts find redemption; the gunning through just about anything that world can quite literally be flipped upside down HALIBUT moves in your general direction. It’s fun, it’s in an effort to solve puzzles and further explore chaotic and it looks pretty damned awesome. the depths of the whimsically twisted town DEVELOPER SLOW BROS / RELEASE DATE 2018 Better yet, it features local co-op multiplayer of Flatwood Peaks. It’s fun, full of heart, and Now this, this is a true work of art. Once should you want to drag a friend into the bursting with ingenuity. you spot Harold Halibut in action, it’s frantic action with you. difficult to let it out of your mind. That’s because this is effectively the closest we are ever likely to come to receiving a true stop-motion videogame; all of the assets—the sets, the characters, and items—have been crafted by hand in a real-world workshop before being 3D scanned into a computer and animated. Wes Anderson the videogame? Perhaps. This is one game we promise you haven’t seen or played anything quite like before.

VIRGO VS THE ZODIAC DEVELOPER MOONANA / RELEASE DATE LATE 2018 Virgo Vs The Zodiac was a crowdfunding success story in 2017 and we were very happy to see Xbox One development confirmed after it reached a stretch goal. We were even happier to discover that the port is in good hands! Virgo is a strange blend of sci-fi and fantasy stuffed inside of an attractive JRPG package; the traditionally styled turn-based combat feels fantastic, while the cosmic action has just enough tricks up its sleeve to keep it feeling fresh and engaging in spite of its familiarities. EARTHFALL DEVELOPER HOLOSPARK / RELEASE DATE SUMMER 2018 Think Left 4 Dead meets Fortnite: Save The to fortify buildings, and deploy barricades World in this hectic four-player co-op FPS to funnel enemies into crossfire locations, game in which you and a few friends must and use cunning tactics to come out on top band together to fight back encroaching against close encounters of the punishing hordes of aliens. You’ll need to utilize all kind. Earthfall is fun and frantic, which just of the weapons at your disposal (or use 3D so happens to be exactly how we like our co- printers to create new ones), work quickly operative FPS games!

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WARGROOVE DEVELOPER CHUCKLEFISH / RELEASE DATE SUMMER 2018

Look, we all know that Xbox is the best platform for gaming, like, forever and for all time. But over the years we’ve picked up some chatter from the Nintendo fanboys through the grapevine that they have this pretty great turn-based strategy series, it goes by the name of Advance Wars. Listen, we were this close to going out and beginning the long and arduous process of rummaging through the attic for a retro console to play it on—and so we thank the gaming gods for Chucklefish. The studio is bringing the action to Xbox One in 2018, retooling it into a fantasy setting and making improvements to core elements such as balance, presentation, and game speed. Spend any time with Wargroove, and you’ll find it difficult not to fall under its spell. It’s a delightful turn-based strategy game, charming in just about everything that it does, and don’t let its looks deceive you, because it sure as hell is a challenge. Wargroove is the game that’s going to dominate the long summer months.

MY TIME AT PORTIA DEVELOPER TEAM 17 / RELEASE DATE SUMMER 2018

Are you finally growing a little tired of Stardew Valley? You are! Well, that’s good news, because we’ve got a new menial-based labor obsession for you to lose hours upon hours of your life to. My Time At Portia has you attempting to restore the foundations to the enchanting town of Portia, using all of the tools in your workshop to restore it to its former glory after it was ravaged by a post- apocalyptic event. Don’t worry about the setup too much; instead your focus should be on the gorgeous graphics and inescapable charm of the game world and its characters. Establish your homestead and manage a farm, take care of all manner of critters and join the community; make friends, foster relationships, and assist the townsfolk in exploring the mysteries of the surrounding area. Trust us, My Time At Portia is a truly wonderful sandbox simulator that, once it gets its hooks into you, you’ll find it real difficult to walk away. It’s yet another triumph for Kickstarter—it smashed its $100,000 goal, for one thing.

062 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE BELOW DEVELOPER CAPYBARA GAMES / RELEASE DATE 2018

It’s hard to believe, but Below was announced Spelunky, only 100 per cent more intriguing and before Xbox One had even hit shelves. This mesmerizing. The further you explore below game from Super Time Force developer the surface of this mysterious island, the more Capybara has been a long time coming; five fraught with danger the game becomes; death years in the making, subject to intense scrutiny arrives quickly and easily, and falling in combat from the community, and carrying the baggage will see your character wiped from existence, a of being one of the very first ID@Xbox games to footnote in history. It’s at this point that a new be revealed, could it ever possibly live up to the wanderer appears on the island by boat, looking hype that it has cultivated over the years? to pick up from where the previous adventurer No, it can’t—but it can surpass it entirely. left off—utilizing any opened shortcuts or tricks Below is an astounding achievement, a discovered in a previous play session. tantalizing cocktail of sumptuous visual design, Below works because it always feels as if spine-tingling audio, and incredibly refined you are making some sense of progression, core game mechanics and systems. At its even as you are failing. Every death is a new heart, Below is an adventure game cast from a opportunity to live; to eek a little closer to top-down perspective in which you, as a lone uncovering the secrets of the island is to truly wanderer, must seek to discover what lies below. succeed in Below, a game that we are certain The game is effectively a roguelike, which will be a standout experience for Xbox One is to say that it’s incredibly punishing—think players in 2018.

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Your gaming month sorted with our definitive reviews

064 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE REVIEW

A fierce argument has broken out in the office over which companion animal in Far Cry 5 is best. Peaches FTW

There’s nothing quite like a quiet trip to the mountains to surround yourself with nature to take in some clean air and relax. Well, that’s what we tried to do,

How we but accidentally booked a holiday to Hope County score: Can’t make sense of in Far Cry 5 (p66), which definitely hasn’t been as 066 our out-of-ten rating system? Then see uplifting as we hoped. Still, we did manage to make below for your at-a-glance guide. friends with a bear called Cheeseburger and mess 10 A gaming masterpiece 9 An essential slice of with a cult, so we had fun even if we didn’t get to brilliance 8 Give it a whirl and relax. Elsewhere we’ve tried out another upcoming you won’t regret it 7 Some minor flaws battle royale-style game with Darwin Project over but still good 6 Solid, but not on page 70. It’s still in Game Preview, but we thought setting any loins aflame 5 Average. Not we’d check it out to see if its twist on the genre can 070 good, but not terrible either compete with the likes of Fortnite and PUBG. Plus 4 Honks just a bit 3 Look away, lest the spectator mode brings a new way to get involved ye be tainted 2 Angry-makingly bad when we’re not quite in the mood for fighting it out 1 Just... no... ß Titles with this ourselves. We’ve also been slaying massive ogres symbol are on Game Preview, so while they aren’t finished, you in Extinction. Or at least we’ve been trying to— can still find out if they’re worth playing. sometimes games just don’t work out the way we hoped and we have to shed a few tears for what 072 could have been. Find out just why we feel that way over on p72. Finally, we’ve managed to step into the life of Senua as she tries to rescue the soul EDITOR’S CHOICE of her lover while also having to deal with her own Irrespective of score, the Editor’s Choice psychosis in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (p74). award is given to games with the It’s great to see a game represent mental health quality, ambition or uniqueness to stand out from the crowd. conditions in a way for others to relate to. 074

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The original Far Cry was inspired by a tech demo Crytek made, called X-Isle: Dinosaur Island

PUBLISHER UBISOFT / DEVELOPER UBISOFT MONTREAL / FORMAT XBOX ONE / RELEASE DATE OUT NOW / COST $59.99 Far Cry 5 EDITOR’S CHOICE HOPE (COUNTY) CAN SET YOU FREE CALLUM HART

If Heath Ledger’s This is the first time the series has woman who’s sampled one too many Joker had a favorite ABOVE For a town set foot in America, and the fictional hallucinogenic flowers. videogame, it would with such a Montana region Ubisoft Montreal has The cult is lead by Joseph Seed: a almost certainly be beautiful cooked up doesn’t disappoint. Hope monologue-loving ‘savior’ who clearly backdrop you’d this. Why? Because hope the locals County may be the most visually studied at the same chatterbox, extra Ubisoft’s gloriously would be diverse environment to ever grace Far evil night school as Vaas Montenegro unhinged open-world blaster revels friendlier. Cry. Rugged valleys and lush forests and Pagan Min. Joseph is backed in exactly the sort of free-form chaos LEFT The Eden’s combine with inviting farmland and up by three lieutenants who control the Clown Prince of Crime would Gate cult is lovely lakes to form an environment each of Hope County’s three regions. lead by the adore. Also, it has an Achievement for terrifyingly that’s a pleasure to inhabit. Whether There’s Jacob Seed, a deranged beating up a bison with a shovel. That charasmatic you’re stalking elk through the soldier who controls the Whitetail would totally tickle the Ace of Knaves’ Joseph Seed. mountains near Baron Lumber Mill or Mountains to the north. Then there’s ribs, right? leisurely hooking Arctic graylings near Faith Seed in the eastern Henbane Set a wolverine on fire with a Widow’s Creek, Hope County is filled River region. Annoyingly, this trippy molotov cocktail. Catch a 27lb with disarming sights and emergent true believer randomly pulls you into paddlefish with Old Betsy, the ultimate animal antics. a drugged up dream realm, known fishing rod. Stealthily infiltrate an as the Bliss. Finally, you have cocky enemy outpost as a burger-loving bear Cult and run yes-man John Seed. And no, he’s not and the best doggo in games watch It’d be an idyllic place to live… a gormless lickspittle; he’s literally your back. Far Cry 5 may have one y’know, if it wasn’t for all those obsessed with the word ‘yes’. So much too many phoned-in, cookie-cutter pesky cultists, an entire doomsday so, a giant Hollywood-esque sign of missions, but in moment-to-moment cult to bring to justice. Eden’s Gate said affirmative response sits atop the gameplay, it’s one of the most life- may try to pass itself off as a soul- hills that overlook his domain. affirmingly chaotic videogames you’ll saving congregation, but really, it’s Pre-release coverage may have ever play. Oh, and you can co-op the a militaristic group of egomaniacal led you to believe Far Cry 5’s story entire thing with an online friend, too. bullies, nihilists, and a certain would have a lot to say for itself when

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 067 it comes to contemporary politics. hunts and muscular shootouts; pity lulling moments of quiet serenity Spoiler: It really doesn’t. If you were not a nuanced, gripping storyline. aren’t exactly Far Cry 5’s calling card. hoping this sandbox would deliver This is where Far Cry 5 delivers in Even the normally peaceful, brilliantly some sort of sarcastic, scathing spades… sometimes involving actual short done fishing minigames can go to hell critique on Donald Trump’s America, spades. With crunching melee cut in a handbasket should a boat full you’ll be disappointed. There’s the weapons, impactful guns, and reliable WHAT IS IT? of cultists show up to scupper your occasional joke aimed at the current stealth mechanics, taking the ultra salmon-luring me time. A sandbox shooter President’s administration, yet Far Cry shooty fight to Eden’s Gate is a riot. stuffed full of animals 5 is mostly toothless in this regard. Regardless of whether you choose and explosions. Animal magic Truthfully, the story never delivers to go loud with grenade launchers or Thankfully, your law enforcer is almost WHAT’S IT LIKE? in general. Though the main stealthy and subtle with a recurve bow always backed up by either a tooled- antagonists are brought to life through and silenced sniper rifle, the series’ Far Cry 3, but in rural up or toothy friend. The new Guns/ America rather than charismatic voice performances, the shootouts have never been more fun. an exotic island. Fangs for Hire system essentially overarching plot leans too heavily There are a touch too many cultists, combines the buddy system from on rambling speeches and clichéd though. Random enemy encounters WHO’S IT FOR? Far Cry 2 with Far Cry Primal’s Beast religious zealotry. occur frequently. Sometimes you Anyone who likes Master feature. There are nine unique In all likelihood though, you’re just want to get between mission catching virtual allies to unlock, and each can be fish or shooting probably here for bear-bashing objectives with little fuss, so it’s a called upon once you clear their deranged cultists. initial recruitment mission. A range of generic NPC fighters can also be found around Hope County, and they’ll watch your back for a price. Still, having some random marksman cover you is nowhere near as rad as being backed up by your very own cougar chum. Ah yes, Peaches. This predator will use silent big cat takedowns on any foe you tag, and she proves a godsend when you’re trying to clear outposts without raising an alarm. It’s not just this cuddly cougar that shines: Each one of these allies proves invaluable. LEFT See, Joseph Need to take down enemy trucks Seed really does in a jiffy? Just request some aerial look like a less notorious Conor assistance from chopper queen McGregor. Adelaide Drubman—mamma of series

068 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE REVIEW

Jacob Seed is played by Mark Pellegrino. Appropriately, you probably know him as Jacob from Lost

LEFT Far Cry is still very good at fire. The flamethrower is a cultist- roasting riot.

FAR LEFT Jospeh must be some leader to get a statue of himself this big already.

mainstay Hurk, who also appears as a ALL MAPPED “It’s a pity the varied and generous, finishing the rocket-loving Gun for Hire. OUT campaign feels grindy. Want to get intimate with those Goodbye, antenna story mode trips In order to conquer each cultists guarding that silo? If so, towers: We hardly lieutenant, you must first reach a Cheeseburger the affable grizzly bear knew ye. Yes, Far Cry over itself when certain Resistance Level; mainly will happily dish out furry maulings. 5 has done away with accomplished by blowing up their the series’ iconic, Conversely, if you’d prefer to deal in property/liberating outposts/ climbable structures. you reach its long-range lethality, arrow expert Rather than climb completing missions. It’s a fine Jess Black makes a great sniping towers to demist the latter stages” enough system in practice. Trouble compadre. The point is, every single map, you now have to is, getting the last 10-15% of those Gun/Fang for Hire proves useful under find physical maps points is a real chore. Missions the right circumstances. Brilliantly, if scattered around mix things up. A combination of a eventually dry up, forcing you to you unlock the Leadership perk, you outposts to make welcoming yet robust map editor, a desperately seek out emergent events can call on two allies at once. onscreen points of series of linear community challenges, or enemy outposts—the latter no interest pop up in the and a suite of multiplayer modes, it longer automatically appear on your world overview. dramatically increases Far Cry 5’s sell- map and must be physically found. Arcade fire Likewise, animal Speaking of perks, the new interwoven icons have also by date. The main Arcade component When you take the campaign and system that blends skilltree points changed. To find takes the form of bite-sized missions Arcade as a whole though, Ubi’s latest with bespoke challenges is fab. In specific species, you made by both Ubisoft and players. It’s really does hit a Hope County home the old games, you’d simply unlock now have to be on a credit to the game’s malleable map run. Pacing problems annoy and the fancy killing/healing/takedown the lookout for editor that levels can be as diverse plot is forgettable, but when you’re maneuvers by earning XP from roadside signs. as a Mirror’s Edge-worthy parkour out in those virtual Montana fields completing missions. In Far Cry 5, challenge, to complex ‘escape the causing mayhem, Far Cry 5 is an the way you improve your character room’ challenges. The generic six- eclectic, electric treat. Q is far more interesting. Perk points player team deathmatch skirmishes are now earned by completing won’t dethrone Battlefield 1 any time specific tasks—say, skinning three soon, but overall, Far Cry Arcade is skunks, or killing 15 enemies with an in-depth, welcome addition to the grenades. Challenges are spread core sandbox campaign. across weapon kills, environmental It’s just a pity said story mode trips OXM VERDICT interactions, and animal hunts. It’s an over itself when you reach its latter intuitive, rewarding take on character stages. Structurally, Far Cry 5 makes Murderous and progression, actively encouraging you some tweaks to the established series mad, this is one of to play in different ways. formula that don’t entirely work. While the silliest, most 8 Far Cry Arcade, an entirely fresh the side quests that make up so much immersive open side mode, also encourages you to of your Hope County experience are worlds on Xbox.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 069 PUBLISHER MICROSOFT / DEVELOPER SCAVENGERS STUDIO / FORMAT XBOX ONE / RELEASE DATE OUT NOW / COST $14.49 Darwin Project

THE EVOLUTION OF BATTLE ROYALE LEON HURLEY

At the rate we’re There are also radar screens inside kills under their belt, are they geared going we’ll soon some houses where you can see the up, or running dry? And so on. have enough battle whole map and everyone on it, handy You only have an axe or bow to fight royale games to to get a quick overview of any threats short with, so combat isn’t a spray-and-pray make them all fight or opportunities near by. And, as you’d cut bum rush. The bow is slow to fire and to the death. Fortnite expect from battle royale, it’s a map tricky to master, as is the axe’s timing, WHAT IS IT? will probably win if we’re honest, but that decreases in size as hexagonal so you have to make your shots count. that’s not to say this game doesn’t zones shut down over time. A small scale battle There’s also an interesting mechanic royale game built have some interesting ideas. In such where successful hits bounce players Action stations around crafting gear a bandwagon scramble to the top you and tracking away from each other. It prevents need something to make you stand It totally changes the pace and feel opponents. everyone just charging in and this out, and is all about the hunt. of an otherwise familiar idea. Instead WHAT’S IT LIKE? spamming attacks mainly, but also Darwin Project has a basic battle of charging around after supplies separates people after each blow— More Fortnite than royale setup—everyone vs everyone and people to pick off, you have to good if you’re taking a hammering, PUBG, it’s a colorful else until there’s one winner left— consider all your actions more— and more lighthearted bad if you’re trying to land that final but with its own take on a hunting finding hidden corners to craft in, deathmatch. killing shot, but most importantly mechanic to shake things up. This is to minimize the possibility of giving it puts you both back on an equal WHO’S IT FOR? as much about tracking the opposition yourself away, for example. If you footing each time. That can give the as it is killing them. All players have locate another player, are you going People who want to combat an almost duel-like feel at try a battle royale to run off after them and risk meeting the ability to find and locate each game that’s shorter, times. Continuing the hunting theme, other by interacting with clues they someone else you haven’t found, faster, and more like if anyone decides to run away they’ll leave behind. Everything you do leaves or take your time and stalk them a traditional leave a blood trail to follow. a trace, so if you craft an item it carefully? Maybe you want to focus deathmatch. Because you’re all fighting with the leaves scraps; chop down a tree and on tracking and see if you can scope same starting tools, making stuff to there’s a stump, and so on. If players everyone out? It gives everything a give you an advantage is vital. You find anything like this they can search slower feel because there’s more to can craft things like armor or speed them, and as a result highlight the think about. Are you ready for a fight? boosts from the wood and leather culprit in the world for 30 seconds. If it’s someone you know has a few you can find plentifully all around

070 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE REVIEW

Track battle royale to the source by reading the eponymous 1999 book, by Koushun Takami, that started it all

LEFT Being a Director makes you the god of the match, dishing out buffs and useful items as you see fit for players. “It’s early days FAR LEFT Combat is a chaotic mix here—there’s of bow sniping and axe blows. only ten player RIGHT Fire is your friend here if you want to matches and a avoid freezing to death. Just single small map” try not to build one where everyone can see. you, while much rarer ‘electronics’ KEEP YOUR let you make higher level gear like ENEMIES shields, or teleporters. These are the CLOSE real key to victory, as a 20-second The big gimmick in damage-absorbing barrier can really Darwin Project is that turn the tide of a fight. Supply drops it gives you quite a lot for these components periodically of information on your the addition of a Show Director. One small map so far—but also a lot to appear throughout the match, and are opponents, letting player doesn’t actually take part in like. If games like PlayerUnknown’s you highlight their the main way of creating flash points position or find them the match, but instead watches and Battlegrounds or Fortnite feel too big as people fight over them, because on a map. This is a triggers events that affect others, or or too chaotic, this has a slower, less obviously the better the gear, the game about tracking the map. There are a range of things hectic pace. That hunting idea also bigger the advantage. down your enemies, you can activate, using a pool of creates a completely different feel, rather than finding points that charges over time. You because there’s more to consider than Let it snow them accidentally. could heal a player, or warm them up just fighting. What’s here is basic so Then there’s the cold, one other thing Crafting and for example, or close down zones to far, but off to a good start and bodes Darwin Project does differently. The collecting things change the shape of the map. More well for its future survival. Q snowy setting does more than add leaves a red clue item importantly you can drop electronics, that you can footprints to follow, because you’re investigate to locate perhaps to help a nearby player or just always slowly freezing to death. The the person to create more chaos. There are also main way to fight that is to build a responsible. When significantly game-changing abilities highly visible fire, warming yourself you do they appear as too, like Gravity Storms that leave up and highlighting your position to a highlighted marker players bouncing around like they’re OXM VERDICT anyone who sees it. You can also use for 30 seconds. Some on the Moon, or Manhunts, where you valuable resources to craft warmer houses also have a can place a loot box bounty on one Some clever ideas, clothes if you think that’s more screen of the playing person’s head, making them a target but needs to use important tactically than armor. area where you can for everyone else. its time in Game get an idea of safe or ß Preview to flesh Darwin Project’s clever ideas dangerous areas. It’s early days here—there’s only don’t just stop there either, with ten-player matches and a single out more content.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 071 REVIEW

What do you call a chronic fear of giants? Feefiphobia

PUBLISHER MAXIMUM GAMES / DEVELOPER IRON GALAXY STUDIOS / FORMAT XBOX ONE / RELEASE DATE OUT NOW / COST $59.99 Extinction

THEY THINK IT’S ALL OGRE DOM PEPPIATT

A game that fused the power to kill giants. It’s hard to a copy/paste set of models that you’ll Devil May Cry with mess such a cool premise up, but see repeated in various configurations Shadow Of The somehow Iron Galaxy Studios dropped a good 100 times before your first Colossus sounded the ball—and from a very great height. short playthrough is done. so good. It sounded In Extinction, you assume the role of cut Navigating this city is supposed to like such a cool use one of the world’s last Sentinels, a be a highlight of the game—you’re WHAT IS IT? of character action mechanics, in soldier named Avil, who is equipped supposed to be an agile, nimble battles against raging, giant creatures with the skills to battle an endless An action game warrior, the only one able to take hellbent on destroying everything wave of Ravenii. where you’re charged down this world-ending threat! with saving mankind in front of them. It could have been Alas, thanks to clunky controls and Hulks smash from—wait for it— everything the doomed Attack On extinction. a camera that never, ever wants to Titan games weren’t, it could have These awkwardly named monsters are cooperate, you instead feel like the WHAT’S IT LIKE? kickstarted a whole new genre of a brutish, war-like race obsessed with world’s clumsiest superhero—a warrior action game. the idea of ending humankind. The Like a straight-to- born with two left feet. video version of Devil But that wasn’t to be. Instead, core conceit of the game is fighting May Cry from Jumping from building to building Extinction is more like a Dynasty these massive hulking behemoths and someone who’s been never works how you’d think: Hitting RB Warriors game… albeit without any of their endless army of minions across watching Shadow Of is supposed to rappel you to surfaces the charm that makes those games, in a rural countryside setting, defending The Colossus Let’s or trees or even the ogres themselves, their own way, enjoyable. Actually, it’s cities and rescuing refugees stranded Plays. but thanks to the slipshod controls more like one of the myriad Dynasty in the war. WHO’S IT FOR? you end up being jerked around Warriors spin-offs: Rougher around the First of all, the game looks like it Fans of Dynasty with the camera desperate to keep edges, less polished, clunky—feeling could have released on Xbox 360: The Warriors, Attack On up, operating with all the grace and at times like it actively doesn’t want levels are barren, barely supporting Titan fanatics, dexterity of a tugboat. to be played. four giants in any one encounter at masochists. One of the game’s main traversal Extinction sets you off with a very any one time. The ‘cities’ themselves mechanics comes in the form of simple promise: You’re a hero with you’re supposed to protect are sparse: bouncing from surface to surface

072 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE “It’s clunky, and FAR LEFT The combat is loose feels at times and difficult to control, the camera actively like it actively fights against you, the AI is doesn’t want usually pretty dumb… it’s bad news for to be played” Extinction.

ABOVE The fantasy realm the game is set in is largely barren and unimaginative.

LEFT Executing Ravenii is the main point of the game, but getting the animation to trigger in the first place is frustrating.

but, again, this ends up feeling more CUSTOM as we played, the gameplay never heart. But it requires a lot of patience like the gentle bumps you got in Xbox- DECLARATION really changes once you learn these and teeth-grinding to even tolerate in era games that pushed you back into Outside of the game’s core mechanics. Sure, the game will the early stages. the world if you were trying to go ‘out core story, you have pile more tasks or conditions on you, With poor production values of bounds’. the option to engage but that’s the core gameplay loop. (sorry voice actors, but this game Combat itself follows this trend of in custom battles Make of that what you will. quickly got its VO turned off), where you set the being clunky and ill-handling. There unsatisfying combat, an unimaginative parameters yourself. are two main facets to how you’re So you control the Meter made story, and a very basic suite of Extinction Extinction supposed to fight in : One number of Ravenii, All this happens while a meter in the mechanics, is best avoided. against the giants, the other against the number of top right of the screen counts you If you do want your fill of budget their minions. Fighting the minions civilians, the size of down from 100 to zero. As the Ravenii action game, you should wait for a and rescuing civilians (which you the map and more. destroy the cities, the Extinction bar sale—how this title managed to be do simply by holding X near them) Thing is, thanks to the reduces. It’s an arbitrary bit of game listed on the Microsoft Store at full is required to be able to take on the suite of mechanics design that, while acting as the main price is simply baffling. Q ogres. These ‘street level’ battles are being repetitive and motivation for basically every level, is underwhelming, no reminiscent of your standard hack ‘n’ nothing more than a glorified timer. matter what slash games: Mash X to win. You can combination or setup Considering the camera really doesn’t throw some pauses in there if you you go for, you always want to play ball with you most of the like, but let’s be honest, it doesn’t get met with the time, and triggering the execution really matter. same, drawn-out animation on the ogres can be a OXM VERDICT When you graduate to the grown-up unsatisfying pain… this timer usually causes more battles, you have to target bits of the experience. frustration than urgency. A poorly polished, giants, break their armor, slice off their Maybe if you’re a fan of retro- poorly realized, and limbs and make it up to their necks inspired games or titles that focus remarkably 3 before they regenerate limbs. It’s all more on action than anything else, underwhelming very My First Action Game, and as far Extinction will earn a place in your action game.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 073 PUBLISHER NINJA THEORY / DEVELOPER NINJA THEORY / FORMAT XBOX ONE, PS4, PC / RELEASE DATE OUT NOW / COST $29.99 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

EDITOR’S CHOICE GO TO HELL... LITERALLY ZOE DELAHUNTY-LIGHT

Helheim is a lot attack (along with a vicious kick to know this sounds ridiculous, but quieter than we break your enemy’s block), you’re Senua’s defeats are as rewarding as thought it would given the building blocks for creating her victories. Every strangled scream be. No wailing. No some brutal combos on the fly. There’s short you let out when you’re hit by a demons jumping nothing quite like stumbling upon one cut chipped axe is a lesson in patience around with pointy by chance and being treated to a raw, and timing, encouraging you like a WHAT IS IT? sticks. Senua, the warrior who you’re bone-crunching finishing move that stern parent—or god, if you’re getting accompanying through this harsh rewards you with enough time to give A hack-n-slash with into Hellblade’s Celtic setting—to a substantial dose of land, walks through the forest with them a quick stab before dodging memorize the attack patterns of each puzzles... and a silent footsteps. Oddly for Ninja their flailing attack. Honestly, just try touching foe you’re facing. Sometimes combat Theory’s action-adventure game, the to resist yelping with glee. There’s no representation of can get dull as the game suffers from only noise is coming from the voices room for error either, as on Normal mental illness. a relatively slim amount of enemies. in Senua’s head as she quests to difficulty it only takes three hits—four WHAT’S IT LIKE? You know how the game sidesteps save her lover Dillion. Jostling over if you count the one that makes Senua this, possibly its only fault? It throws Expect to be biting each other, they doubt her, they push a bloody splatter on the dirt—for you your lip in more enemies at you. her onwards, they laugh when she to start all over again. concentration during Because once you’ve mastered thinks she’s making progress... and lethal swordplay and taking on one target, Hellblade every so often, they help. Making the break its brain teasers. decides to give you a couple more. Hellblade Hellblade does its best to make isn’t harsh, though. Each WHO’S IT FOR? At first it’s horrifically stressful, enemy has a routine set of attacks you feel like you’re alone. All Someone who enjoys but gradually it becomes second the voices in your head make it and provides you with a whole the thrill of combat, nature to evade to a position where painfully obvious how little human second—two if you’re lucky—to exploit but wants a break all your enemies remain in your support surrounds you, their hoarse the break in its defenses. Okay, so every now and again. eyeline. When it all gets a bit too screaming when you’re fighting that doesn’t sound like a lot. Taking much—as it inevitably will—the being the closest the game gets full advantage of these gaps in your voices start to become your most to a tutorial. But... it works. Simple enemy’s metaphorical armor (they’re important resource, warning you controls mean that although you’re all rippling with muscle, by the way) when someone’s getting too close or limited to a basic light and heavy is the only way you’ll survive. We yelling “evade!” just at the moment a

074 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE REVIEW

Senua is based on the ancient queen Boudica... she’s not someone you want to mess with

LEFT Senua’s journey to find Hela isn’t going to be easy—but when you’ve got a sharp sword in one hand, where’s the fun in easy? “It’s not very FAR LEFT Find lore stones to often that unlock your memories of a game like outcast Druth. RIGHT Guide Senua through Hellblade the realms of Helheim, and comes along” make sure you’re always ready for a fight. foe is swinging their sharp implement PORTRAYING at your back. Developing that odd PSYCHOSIS reliance on your voices makes you SENSITIVELY realize how used to them Senua Ninja Theory is aiming is herself. Every now and again to donate up to she’ll tell them to leave her alone... $50,000 from the Xbox yet having them close by when One sales to Mental breathing space like this in Hellblade. swing of your sword, every victory and everything else wants you dead is an Health America as a As frustration builds from each hectic defeat. Coupled with story-drenched continuation of their odd kind of comfort. commitment to a round of combat there’s the risk of it puzzles to break up the intense Hellblade sensitive portrayal of getting too much, yet the brainteasers hack-and-slashing makes Gods of war psychosis, the mental let you slow down a little and enjoy a beautifully-paced exploration of Outnumbered, overwhelmed, and illness Senua suffers the scenery. Story seeps into each mental illness and inner strength. To quite possibly intensely disturbed from. During the one. Senua is about as chatty as the put it simply, if you don’t join Senua in by the Norse gods you’re facing: development of growling horrors she wields her sword Hell you’re missing out on one of the This definitely isn’t a walk in the Hellblade, Ninja against, so these calm moments are most thoughtful games available on park. Sandy beaches scattered with Theory spoke to the only chance you have to learn the Xbox One. Q wrecked longships and ruined houses neuroscientist and exactly what brought her to this psychosis expert tell you all you need to know about Professor Paul nightmarish realm. Senua’s world and own enigmatic past Fletcher to ensure It’s not very often that a game like without being intrusive. their representation this comes along. Simple controls Far from being all about fighting, of the illness was as make you eventually see combat as the game knows exactly when accurate as possible, a fluid, instinctual flurry of patterns OXM VERDICT you need a break from hack-and- even going so far as that soon become second nature, slashing. Pacing is one of its greatest to talk to people who almost identical to how Senua herself A sensitive strengths. Between each duel to the suffer from the must understand fighting. Although portrayal of mental death—hopefully not your own—are condition themselves. there aren’t really enough enemy illness and rigorous 9 a series of puzzles set by fickle gods. types, you’ll always feel challenged as combat: Hellblade Don’t overestimate the importance of you’re pushed to be better with every is almost perfect.

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078 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE extra

We’ve had an exhilarating time this month, full of thrilling adventures and adrenalin-pumping set- pieces. We swing into the start of the Extra section by taking another look at Rise Of The Tomb Raider (p80) to admire Crystal Dynamics’ ability to walk 82 the tightrope of old and new to create something for everyone. It’s the perfect accompaniment to our huge Shadow Of The Tomb Raider feature to remind you of what came before Lara’s next adventure. Then, with the upcoming release of its remaster, we thought it would be the perfect time to punish ourselves with another treacherous stroll through 84 the world of Dark Souls (p82). We died, a lot, and sadistically we can’t wait to do it all over again in higher definition. In our Retrospective we reminisce on the Wild West of indie game development and remember XBLIG (p84). The Xbox Live Indie Games service, which is sadly no more, provided, among many things, an untamed landscape of ideas and 88 oddities including the likes of Mount Your Friends.

PLAY NOW We also go further than we’ve ever gone before in ON XBOX ONE

BACKWARDS Explore, and check out some of the best locations COMPATIBLE in the Mass Effect Trilogy (p88). Finally, if you want Keep an eye out for this badge over the to join in on the same exhilarating fun that we’ve next few pages: it indicates when a game of old can be been having take a look at our list of the 10 Best booted up in shiny Xbox One-o-vision. Multiplayer Games on Xbox One (p92). Enjoy. 92

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More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 079 080 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE NOW PLAYING it theydid. Bay actiongamematerial.Butachieve jumps) andthenew-schoolMichael raiding oftombs(completewithfinicky old-school, honest-to-goodness achieve asortofequilibriumbetween two gamesforCrystalDynamicsto weakness. Becauseintruthitdidtake andI’mglad ofthatpersonal resolve, erodedthat looking game,thatfinally and byextensionthisevenlovelier really, butitdoesfindahappymiddle anopen-world game,not It isn’t requiredtohave. now apparently this extragamemapspacewe’re about whatshouldbedonewithall into theindustry-wideargument of seriesidentitywhilealsoweighing Of TheTomb Raider All themoreimpressiveisthat Space invader beauty of2013’s Lara’s contemporaryescapades. for fearofbecomingalienatedwith III whenever theycould.No, waggling theireyebrowsatthecamera them totheground,characters blowingthingsuporleveling Always bit toolate’90sBrendanFraserforme. Dynamics titleswereabittoo…well, the ideathatthesenewfangledCrystal with Tyrannosaurs, I’d longfostered rock formationsandpistolshootouts squareHimalayan between improbably Raider generation whoremembers As amemberofthatbefuddledolder blockbuster.like aHollywood treats everysecondofitsscreentime along theway, rabbits areskinnedandeaten.And men arechokedoutfrombehind, taking rootinSiberia.Bearsareshot, mystery,family stoppinginSyriaand search ofartefactsandanswerstoa was where I pulled up the stumps, waswhereIpulledupthestumps, I think ultimately it was the sheer itwasthesheer I thinkultimately And infact,that’s whatputmeoff. as a bastion of finicky jumps asabastionoffinickyjumps Rise OfTheTomb Raider Tomb Raider trots the globe in trots theglobein Young adventurer his ownarmfor: would haveeaten Brendan Fraser caper late-’90s It’s thesortof retains a sense retainsasense those, though, than in than though, those, new, in meets say. old brochures Fewerbears astourism Where PUBLISHER Tomb Raider Tomb reboot, reboot, Rise Rise SQUARE ENIX

/ DEVELOPER them yourway?Well, quite. play played thatallow you toactually contrast, howmany gameshaveyou on conferencelivestreams?And,by your way’andsimilaremptyplatitudes heard publishersbleatabout‘play it perspective. Howoftenhaveyou doing, fromthegamedesigner’s takessome with thejob.Thatreally linearpath andgeton follow afairly labyrinthine seriestimeline)shecan futureadventures, giventhe (really feeling nostalgicforpastadventures action-adventure gaming.Andifshe’s she prefersanewerinterpretationof spend hertimehuntingandforagingif boundaries. Inthisway, Lara’s freeto interconnected hubswithgenerous ground bysettingitselfinaseriesof extra CRYSTAL DYNAMICS Rise Of The Tomb The Of Rise Raider

/ FORMAT XBOX ONE

/ pulleys, pressure-pads, andbooby- and dangerouspuzzle box,filledwith sense ofwonder. controls, either. WhatIholddearisthe campaigning forareturntothose corridor flankedbyspikepits.I’mnot wrestled thetankcontrolsdowna its ownsecretobjectiveswhileyou against you,veeringofftopursue working times seemedtobeactively the oldwaywardcamera,whichat a modern need today inmanyways.Idon’t like crawlingthroughbrokenglass theCoregamesplay because frankly worthpreserving, past areactually about whichbitsof RELEASEDATE The sense of being in an enormous The senseofbeing inanenormous Let’s take a minute to be clear Let’s takeaminutetobeclear Tomb Raider

PHIL IWANIUK NOVEMBER 2015 Tomb Raider to recreate torecreate traps. Pressing any given button might reveal that long-sought path towards “Treats every second of its screen ABOVE The game’s completion, or it might instantly never short of a time like a Hollywood blockbuster – spellbinding impale you on the aforementioned vista or two. spike pit. It felt like an adventure, in a way that’s seldom delivered today and that’s what put me off” FAR LEFT Ms Croft’s latest for fear on the developer’s part that has a way with you might get a bit bored spending older games. As a born-again student marketing and titillation. We’ve all rock formations three bamboozled hours in the same of Tomb Raider’s modern redesign, heard the story about Lara’s boobs and complementary lighting underground room and simply I’m also by proxy a student of being enlarged in error, after all, and conditions. never play it again. ancient mythology, and left at that spine-troubling size for the And that, I’m Siberian geography. benefit of teenage boys worldwide. discovering, is what Rise Crystal Dynamics have Does that suggest a character who Of The Tomb Raider puts WHAT IS IT? obviously spent untold was intended to have a relatable back in. Tombs, and the Lara Croft’s most recent hours with their heads personality, and complex motivations? raiding thereof. Being journey, now with fur in the books in order (Another bit of ‘old-school’ game jackets, crisp snow, and ROTTR left alone to figure random bear attacks. to decorate ’s design that can get in the same bin as out the intricacies of a bitter cold environs Tomb Raider’s camera and controls.) particular environmental with thematically and Crystal Dynamics do their best to puzzle, and thus being able historically appropriate tell the story about a young woman to enjoy the glory when you artifacts, and whether or not you dealing with the death of her father, finally solve it. Sometimes these crop have the patience to sit and read the and her destiny as a treasure hunter, up as optional diversions in among accompanying text of every new find, but in reality while that’s preferable the business of progressing the main there’s no doubt that this enthusiasm to a game about a mute anatomical story, and sometimes they’re placed for the setting and surrounding curiosity it’s told too earnestly to at center stage for you to mull over. mythology on the developer’s part is really get its hooks in. In the end, It’s unashamed vintage platform infectious. Even if that enthusiasm it’s the background lore that proves puzzling, with new tricks thrown in only extends as far as staying much more engaging, and happily that don’t feel like they’re tarnishing engaged with the main plot. that’s the stuff you see all around the old traditions. you in the game, second by second. Those rock wall surfaces that can Keeping abreast What a tightrope between old and be leapt at with abandon, and latched About that, actually: It’s not very new Crystal Dynamics walked here, onto using your climbing axe, actually good. Games rarely are when they and with expert poise. Maybe you’ve feel the opposite—essential moments have to retrofit deep personalities been protecting those ’90s memories of edge-of-your-seat platforming and rich backstories to characters by giving new Lara a wide berth too— that you’d feel the absence of in who were originally intended only for it’s time. Q

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More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 081 082 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE NOW PLAYING and rememberhowtodie.The over to the nearby graveyard with an over tothenearby graveyardwithan crow towardFirelink Shrine. I’m whiskedawaybyanenormous cornered. Afterdefeatingthemonster, for notpayingattentionandgetting got this.“You Died.” Servesmeright own. Rinseandrepeat.I’vedefinitely blow, andreturntolandafewofmy me. Irollawaytoavoidhiscrushing head. Nottoopleased,itswingsat deep intotheAsylumDemon’s the ledge,Iplungemysword boss room.Jumpingfrom to theupperlevelof my health.Ifindway Flasks thatreplenish all-important Estus receive abunchofthose wall. ThroughwhichI smashes aholeinthe bowling downthestairsand the hugeboulderthatcomes “You Died.”Ofcourse, Iforgotabout and runupalargeflightofstairs. a swordandshieldalongtheway, way throughtheasylum,grabbing broken sword.Escaping,Iworkmy the AsylumDemonwithmymeasly fingers. “You takeon Died.”Ifoolishly muscle memorytoflowthroughmy steps andallowthatall-important corridors, soImakemyfirsttentative It’s beenawhilesinceIstalkedthese dust myselfoff,andventureforth. get stuckin. life inaninstant.WiththatmindI turn havingthepotentialtoclaimyour the fear. Thefearofeverycorneryou you wanted,butinfear. Neverforget encouraged youtoexploretheway explain howeverythingworkedand holdyourhandand game thatdidn’t combat. Itwasrefreshingtoplaya minimalist narrativetoitsunforgiving on thegaminglandscape,fromits series hashadanimmenseimpact Getting my bearings, I wander Getting mybearings, Iwander I wakeupintheUndeadAsylum, world of into thebrutal time toheadback like theperfect remaster, itseems release ofits With theimminent PUBLISHER through the halls of of through thehalls toCracking prepare myknuckles for myself another stroll Dark Souls A ceaselessly challenging challenging A ceaselessly Souls where you learn from your where youlearnfromyour but enjoyable action RPG but enjoyableactionRPG NAMCO BANDAIGAMES mistakes by dying over mistakes bydyingover WHAT ISIT? and overagain.

bravely stand my ground. standmyground. bravely people crossingitswalkway, butI Died.” As long as you avoid the Died.” Aslongasyouavoidthe is amuchsaferwaytogo.“You face, which,ifIremembercorrectly, different pathupthesideofacliff inwaittherethen.Ichoosea lying be thebunchofviciousskeletons uneasy feeling.“You Died.”That’ll down, butIreturn thefavor. Irunback The demonswings andknocksme health. Butnowmy pathisblocked. taking awayalargechunkofits driving mysworddowninthebeast, I climbthetowerbehindmeandleap, “You Died.”Rememberinganoldtactic, Praise theSun Demon’s atme” Itswings head. Asylum the my into sword deep “Jumping Iplunge ledge fromthe extra mass doesn’t take too kindly to to taketookindly mass doesn’t

undead waiting to ambush undead waitingtoambush / DEVELOPER Taurus Demon.Thishulking you. I continue for a while, you. Icontinueforawhile, stand face to face with the stand facetowiththe Dark Souls Souls Dark wandering around taking wandering aroundtaking ways until,suddenly, I out every undead that out everyundeadthat in more embarrassing in moreembarrassing crosses mypath, a few times, but dying a fewtimes,butdying escapingdeath narrowly FROM SOFTWARE

ADAM BRYANT

/ FORMAT XBOX 360 much harderfromhere. laid beforeme,butbecausethingsget because ofthewonderfulsightthat’s sunlit skyandshedatearnot I joinhiminadmiringthebeautiful with anoldfriend,SolaireofAstora. squashes me. over. “You Died.”Imiss,andthedemon more pile-driveintoitshead,andit’s havemuchhealtheither. doesn’t One Flasks lefttohealme.Butthebeast haveanyEstus top, Irealizedon’t tothetower.frantically Reachingthe roll betweenitslegs.Imakemyway directions, Isprinttowardsitand changing the monsterfollows.Quickly to theothersideofwalkway, and Eventually I succeed, and reunite Isucceed,andreunite Eventually

/ RELEASEDATE OCTOBER 2011 Q More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm at news Xbox More NOW PLAYING focus on this year’s game, insteadchoosingto scrubbed itshandsof has essentially servestofortifyclaims that2K only 2K retreatsintoitsshell.Thatattitude on socialmedia,themorepublisher and themorefansdemandanswers vague bulletpointsforversion1.07— non-existent—four short, to virtually notes havespiralledfromobscure 2K18 It’s beenthesamefor resolved? when theproblemmightbe concrete informationasto delay, butthelackofany not bythehalf-hour found yourselfannoyed Ever satonatrainand one oftransparency. character interrupting. soliloquy—without anAI parlance foraself-aggrandizing deliverapromo—wrestling and can’t have entirematchcardsdisappear, WTF-worthy.is especially Iroutinely which youcreateshowsandfeuds, her fromdamage.Universemode,in an invisiblewallshieldinghimor an opponentintotheturnbuckles, became impossibleformetowhip downright bizarre; fortwoweeksit breaking others,withcertainissues has fixedsomeelementswhile they’re almostintodoublefigures— both? Eachpatch—andasofMarch ever, orabuggymess.CanIlabelitas the mostaccomplishedwrestlingsim decideifit’s months, andstillcan’t but alsoinfuriating. you backintoreality. Appropriate, unexpected gut-punchblindsides teases all-time-greatstatus,an then, thateverytime decades. It’s perhapsappropriate, staple ofthepretend-fightgamefor steel chair—hasbeenastorytelling his onscreenbestfriend’s spinetoa The biggest issue is The biggestissueis forsix I’ve beenplayingthisdaily ’s recent‘fixes’.Patch-release WWE 2K19 WWE by introducing by introducing warning, usually side withnoprior his nefarious wrestler embraces where abeloved The heelturn— —an unacceptable —an unacceptable WWE 2K18 WWE PUBLISHER tooliterally all it delivers Choreographed pain is the norm in wrestling—but in wrestling—but Choreographed pain norm isthe years ago, and has been years ago,andhasbeen 2K GAMES

series which began as series whichbeganas The latest entry in the The latestentryinthe WWF SmackDown! WWF under 2K jurisdiction under 2Kjurisdiction since THQ’s 2013 WHAT ISIT? demise.

/ DEVELOPER Concepts makes that possible in Concepts makesthat possiblein only emergedinJanuary.only situation giventhatitslatestDLCpack established byYuke’s andVisual Smackdown, and NXT. Tech to uploadnewadditionsRaw, falls ontothefanbase’s shoulders updateshere,meaningit weekly hover over franchise’s the future” current-gen, question marks now on years encouraging “After three There areno where rosteraccuracyisconcerned. reversal-heavy mainevent. and-furious openertofinisher-and- deserves huge credit for keeping deserves hugecreditforkeeping constructive criticism,itscommunity While thedeveloper’s actionswarrant Slider meal extra User input is especially welcome welcome User inputisespecially that build naturally fromfast- that buildnaturally 18 18 the game alive, and brilliantly the gamealive,andbrilliantly YUKE’S /VISUALCONCEPTS (when they actually save) save) (when theyactually playable, despite those bugs. playable, despitethosebugs. together match cards together matchcards I’ve thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed I’ve thoroughly and as a result can piece and asaresultcanpiece tinkering with the in-ring tinkering withthein-ring FIFA and Operation Sports, and OperationSports, fundamentals using sites suchascaws.ws slider setsfoundon - or BEN WILSON Madden -style -style

/ FORMAT XBOX ONE Stone Cold. grave dangerofturningitsfanbase considered Rocksolid.Nowit’s in decade thisserieshasbeen 2K19 regarding thestabilityof should thesameaudiencehave over ahalf-yearperiod,whatfaith ‘testing’it of thousandseffectively fix aliveproductthat’s hadhundreds comprehensively those studioscan’t hover overthefranchise’s future.If current-gen, questionmarkssuddenly after threeencouragingyearson redeeming features. to paintthemasvillainswithzero the firstplace,soperhapsit’sunfair But there can be no doubt that, But therecanbenodoubtthat,

/ RELEASEDATE upon release? For half a uponrelease?Forhalfa THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE Q WWE 2K18 OCTOBER 2017 WWE

083 084 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE RETROSPECTIVE XBOX LIVE IG extra

Looking back with Silver Dollar Games on the weird and wonderful world of the Xbox 360’s defunct indie platform PAUL WALKER-EMIG

The Xbox 360’s on console seems anything but Xbox Live Indie revolutionary now that indie games Games service have become such an important part (XBLIG) was unlike of console gaming. But remember that anything that has XBLIG launched in 2008, just as indie ever appeared on games were starting to make waves in console. The walled the console market. garden that is the console space is Even then, the kind of games you one associated with careful curation could play on XBLIG weren’t the kind and management. It makes those we can so easily access on Xbox ecosystems feel well-defined, clean, One today, nor the more upmarket safe. To venture into the Wild West Xbox Live Arcade at the time. With that was XBLIG was to have those XBLIG, you didn’t need the approval conceptions smashed. This was a of Microsoft to get your game on place that felt chaotic and untamed. the console, just a handful of peer A place where you could frequently reviews from other developers. This find games that would make you meant that you could find all sorts exclaim, “What the hell is this?” It was of bizarre, rough-around-the-edges eccentric, it was strange, and it was, oddities that would have no chance occasionally, brilliant. XBLIG grew out of Microsoft’s XNA game development tool—a free piece “Allegedly, the reason Four of software that offered a great way into game development for the likes Winds Fantasy looked like of Silver Dollar Games, who published around 60 titles for XBLIG. “XNA got it was drawn by a child us interested in programming,” Silver Dollar Games’ Jon Flook tells us. “It was because it was” made a lot of things possible for the amateur programmer that previously of making it onto console today. Take would’ve been too difficult to do. We Four Winds Fantasy as an example. started looking at XNA in 2007, and The game was a weird little RPG with made our first game using it. We artwork that looked like it had been got excited when we heard about drawn by a child on MS Paint. There’s a service on Xbox 360 that would no way it’d be taken seriously by a use XNA and allowed indie platform holder today. We’re developers to self-publish.” COPYCAT not quite sure this is true, That service was Xbox CREATORS but, allegedly, the reason Live Indie Games, and Four Winds Fantasy it continued in the Ripping off Minecraft looked like it was drawn proved wise. CastleMiner spirit of XNA, offering Z, for example, was by a child was because a low barrier of entry the first XBLIG game to it was. Either a kid drew to developers. “At the reach one million paid the art and his dad made time it was really the only downloads. it into a game and XBLIG place we knew of where gave them a way to get it we could self-publish on a on Xbox 360, or there’s a myth console,” explains Flook. “It wasn’t around this weird little game that’s ABOVE Lightsaber difficult and it was a lot of fun. We had entirely untrue and impossible to levels where kamikaze total creative freedom. Also, we were verify thanks to the obscurity of this stickmen charge able to make games with no budget, curio. Either way, there’s something towards death at which meant they didn’t have to be wonderful about that. the hands of your glowing financially successful, and boy, they blade are sure weren’t. But we were making Good vibrations supremely games for the joy of it.” What helped make XBLIG work was satisfying. The idea of an indie developer that its low barrier of entry applied on being able to publish relatively easily the consumer side too. The games

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 085 extra on the service were cheap, costing building, asking you to make choices either 80, 240 or 400 Microsoft Points, about his life for him on the descent. making it a great way of using up the You might also discover a stone cold Microsoft Points you’d typically have classic, like Silver Dollar Games’ best left over after a pricier purchase. XBLIG title, One Finger Death Punch. Additionally, all games had a trial period of eight minutes, allowing Punching up you to get a taste of anything that “OFDP started off as an ultra-difficult was available on the service with no game called Your Kung Fu Is Not financial risk. Strong,” says Flook. “One hit or one The low barrier to entry obviously mistake and you’re done. It was had some downsides. XBLIG was full brutally hard and ultimately not that of questionable content, including a much fun. So, we tore the game vast array of slimy dating games with down and started over from scratch. scantily-clad women, weird chat-up We came up with the one vs many simulators, and ‘massage games’ that concepts from the final scene of the would make your controller vibrate. film The One,” Flook continues. “In that We’ll leave it up to you to imagine scene, Jet Lee is atop of a pyramid where you were supposed to put your fighting off a seemingly endless wave vibrating controller. of enemies. We wanted to recreate Then there were the clones that action in our game.” made to capitalize on whatever The result is a thrilling two-button trend seemed to be selling best. game where your stickman character You could find a swath of Minecraft is swarmed by enemies attacking imitators on the server, such as from two directions. Despite its simple FortressCraft and CastleMiner Z. Plus countless zombie games, and avatar- based games like Avatar Ninja and “We’ve played action games with 1,000 Super Avatar World. All this unsavory, derivative, and times the budget that aren’t half as much cynical content inevitably gave XBLIG a bad reputation. It became known fun as One Finger Death Punch was” as a repository of trash. Though we would argue that there was owned by a telemarketer” where a controls, it’s a surprisingly deep still something fascinating about ABOVE The telemarketer spends the entirety game with some clever ideas and a exploring that ‘trash’—flicking through prospect of of the game’s trial period trying satisfying rhythmic flow. We’ve played all that garish, amateur cover art that stumbling across to persuade you to buy the game action games with 1,000 times the an incredible invited you to ponder who the person game like Bleed with progressively more aggressive budget that aren’t half as much fun was that made this stuff and what while sifting tactics. You might find something as it was. they hoped to achieve—we won’t deny through XBLIG more contemplative, like Game 35: The Of course, Silver Dollar Games made it a that that reputation was deserved to fascinating Experiment, “a game about trust and weren’t the only ones releasing cool a degree. However, it also obscures place to forgiveness” that “looks like a generic games on the service. Mount Your what an interesting place XBLIG could explore. jumping game, but ends up being Friends is a multiplayer classic made be if you took the time explore it. completely different”. by Stegersaurus Games where two Take Silver Dollar Games’ own output Or perhaps Office Affairs, a game players take turns controlling muscle- as an example. Browsing XBLIG might inspired by Flook’s time working as bound climbers, scaling an ever- lead you to one of the games that a temp in an office where an office growing tower made of those same they made as a joke, such as Why worker tells you about his repetitive burly gentlemen. Hidden In Plain Sight Did I Buy This?, “a game about getting dead-end job while he falls from a pioneers an idea later picked up in the Assassin’s Creed series’ multiplayer: One player controls a sniper’s crosshair and the others have to try to act like AI characters so as not THE BEST to expose themselves to the sniper. Escape Goat is a fantastic puzzle OF XBLIG platformer full of devious puzzle rooms. Top-down shoot ‘em up I MAED A GAM3 W1TH ZOMBIES 1N It!!!1 was an early XBLIG hit that helped kickstart FINGERS OF FURY SWINGING TO SUCCESS BLEED the career of Ska Studios, who went While there certainly were ONE FINGER MOUNT YOUR FRIENDS DEEP CUT on to make The Dishwasher: Vampire a lot of ‘unsavory’ games DEATH PUNCH Get your character to the A slick and exciting Smile and Salt And Sanctuary. available on the service, Take down the enemies top of the tower before time run-and-gun action- there were also some charging at you with cool goes. They will freeze in platformer with epic boss The point here isn’t just to insist genuine greats. Here are martial arts moves. There’s place and the gauntlet is battles and cool time- that XBLIG had some fantastic three of them. a sequel coming soon. passed to your opponent. slowing mechanics. games in amongst the rubbish that caused many to unfairly write it

086 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE off. The point is that XBLIG ran the full gambit. It had terrible games. It had ingenious experiments built around clever ideas. It had games with dodgy sexual content. It had clones. It had surreal curios that would leave you furrowing your eyebrows in confusion. It had amazing multiplayer experiences. That diversity of quality and content was a big part of its charm. In this unfiltered, messy, unique place, you never knew what you were going to find. It had a capacity to surprise that’s been lost in a world where console indie games are held to higher standards and often afforded the same attention as their big- budget counterparts. In some ways, that is a good thing, but it also means you’ll never get that feeling you had on XBLIG. That feeling that you might just find a hidden gem that no one’s discovered yet.

XBlocked simply a different kind of market I’ll tell you, a studio probably isn’t Should we judge Microsoft too TOP You are a suited to certain types of games. publishing many games on Xbox Live harshly for shuttering XBLIG in October goat. You have We still feel that it’s an injustice Arcade with a budget of just $100. 2017? After all, the system did have been imprisoned that games like OFDP didn’t get the And that’s why XBLIG was so amazing. for witchcraft. its faults and, again, Silver Dollar You need to financial success they deserved, Even if you had nothing you could Games provides a perfect illustration. escape. Now you but Flook resists the idea that XBLIG give it a shot.“ “OFDP took a year and a half to know Escape should be thought of as a service We are inclined to agree. XBLIG’s Goat’s s tory. make and something like $50k worth that failed to honor some unique brand of egalitarian chaos of assets,” Flook explains. “I think it ABOVE Ignore the preconceived standard of what made it special. It allowed for a kind big swinging made something like $5k on XBLIG, dongs and represents quality. For him, it wasn’t of experimentation and playfulness so that didn’t work out too well”. believe us when what XBLIG was about. that created a space unlike anything Flook doesn’t hold this against we say Mount “I don’t think Xbox users were like, ever seen before or since on console. Your Friends is XBLIG, saying that Silver Dollar a game of skill ‘where are all the quality games?’, Perhaps its time was up, but we will knew OFDP wouldn’t be a hit on the and strategy… because they always had Xbox still mourn its passing. XBLIG, old service. He argues that XBLIG was Live Arcade,” Flook argues. “But friend—we salute you. Q

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 087 extra OXM EXPLORES

Going further afield in our Explore segment this month, we join the well- travelled Commander Shepard and check out some of the amazing locations in the Mass Effect trilogy ADAM BRYANT

PUBLISHER ELECTRONIC ARTS / DEVELOPER BIOWARE / RELEASE DATES 2007—2012

Citadel, Widow, Serpent Nebula Mass Effect 3 Every visit that Shepard has made to this enormous space station has been eventful. She oversaw the destruction of the Reaper, Sovereign, became the face of every shop that wanted her endorsement, scored a sweet apartment to live in, carried out a heist in one of its casinos, rifled through the secret council archives, and even discovered that she had a clone. So, yeah. Eventful.

Thessia, Parintha, Athena Nebula Mass Effect 3 Shepard went to this beautiful Asari homeworld with Liara on Manae, Palavan, Tuchanka, Aralakh, Sur’Kesh, Pranus, a mission to retrieve an ancient Trebia, Apien Crest Krogan DMZ Annos Basin Prothean artefact that could help Mass Effect 3 Mass Effect 3 Mass Effect 3 in the construction of a super- The Turian homeworld of Palavan When Shepard visited the Krogan The Salarian homeworld is a weapon to defeat the Reapers. was just another planet to fall homeworld the first time she natural beauty thanks to its lush The journey was made a little under attack from the Reapers. reunited with her old friend, Wrex, jungles. After discovering that complicated because the Reapers It seemed that not even the who ended up becoming the a cure for the genophage—a had already started the invasion strongest military force in the leader of the Urdnot clan trying biological weapon that drastically of the planet, turning it into a war galaxy could stand up to this to unite all Krogans. Because of stunts Krogans’ ability to zone. Unfortunately the mission invasion. Shepard arrives on its this she was able secure her new breed—was possible, the Krogans ended in failure, and the Reapers moon just in time and, thanks to Krogan team mate, Grunt’s, place demanded that they be cured took the planet. her role in curing the genophage, within the clan. But the second before any help would be given successfully secures an alliance time she went there she went one in the oncoming Reaper invasion. between the Turians and the better and cured the genophage, Shepard managed to extract the Krogans and manage to push and with it the Krogans’ support last female that could make this back the Reaper invasion. in the Reaper invasion. cure possible.

088 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE Omega, Sahrabarik, Rannoch, Tikkun, Virmire, Hoc, Serpent Nebula Perseus Veil Sentry Omega Mass Effect 2 Mass Effect 3 Mass Effect Ruled by the asari ‘Pirate A Reaper base controlling the Shepard came to this tropical Queen’, Aria T’Loak, this corrupt Geth was located on this former paradise to rescue a salarian counterpart to the Citadel has Quarian homeworld and Shepard reconnaissance team, but finds everything your fiendish heart was sent in to attempt to destroy out that the rogue Spectre, Saren, could ever desire, and more. it. But Shepard being Shepard is trying to create his own Krogan Shepard visited here to recruit she not only managed to free army. Along with Captain Kirrahe salarian scientist Mordin Solus the Geth from the Reapers’ and his Special Task Group, and trustworthy Turian ally influence by destroying an actual Shepard stops his nefarious Garrus Vakarian to help take on Reaper, but also brokered a plans, but discovers a shocking the Reapers. After stopping off truce between the Quarians and truth about the Reapers. The for a drink at the Afterlife club, Geth, settling an interminable mission ended in tragedy as Shepard learnt never to trust 300 years of conflict. Not bad for Shepard was forced to sacrifice a a Batarian bartender. a day’s work. member of her team.

Feros, Theseus, Attican Beta Mass Effect The ExoGeni Corporation thought that a planet with the majority of its surface covered in Prothean ruins would be the perfect location to settle a human colony. Little did the colony know that the planet was already home to an ancient being known as the Thorian, which decided to enslave them. Thankfully Shepard stopped it, repelled a Geth invasion, and destroyed the Thorian, thus Ilos, Refuge, saving the day. Pangea Expanse Mass Effect The rediscovery of the mass Collector Base, effect Mu Relay, which was knocked out of orbit due to a Tartarus Debris Field, nearby star that went supernova, Galactic Core allowed Shepard to reach Ilos. Mass Effect 2 There was something quite Shepard traveled through the wonderful about visiting a planet Omega 4 Relay on a suicide Noveria, Pax, that hadn’t been visited by a mission to reach the Collector’s Horse Head Nebula single soul for almost 50,000 ‘homeworld’, which is nestled Mass Effect years, but also something quite among a debris field within a This icy tundra of a planet is sad knowing that this was where black hole’s accretion disc near where scientists go to conduct the last Prothean race died out. the galaxy’s core. Turns out the research that’s too dangerous to Collectors were making a human/ do elsewhere. Investigating Geth Reaper hybrid using genetic activity Shepard discovers that material from abducted human the once extinct Rachni species colonists. Yikes. are alive, but not necessarily well. Shepard saves the insect-like ones from a second genocide, and gives them the opportunity to learn from their ancestors’ mistakes and not destroy every other species in the galaxy.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm extra WHY I LOVE... THE PROLOGUE IN DOOM

Delving into the focused and absorbing qualities behind one of the best opening sequences of the past decade FRASER GILBERT PUBLISHER BETHESDA SOFTWORKS / DEVELOPER ID SOFTWARE / FORMAT XBOX ONE / RELEASE DATE MAY 2016

RIGHT Wonder what the TripAdvisor reviews are like?

090 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE Ask just about anyone who experienced the original Doom for the first time back in 1993, and they’ll have a story to share about its opening level. It was iconic, incorporating eye-catching visuals, a memorable soundtrack, and impeccable stage design. A similar sense of wonder carries over to the introduction of 2016’s Doom, which proves highly reminiscent of its 25-year-old counterpart, despite lacking the same revolutionary impact. Its greatest achievement can be attributed to its reluctance in employing a standard “You’re here to kill as if you’re engaging in a paint-by- tutorial in favor of diving right in, numbers tutorial. Instead, it spends burying into the subconscious with an demons, and the story is its time generating a ballsy first array of clever design techniques. impression that delves into both the The prologue is around five minutes merely an afterthought conscious and subconscious mind. It in length, following protagonist has the confidence to get in your face Doom Slayer as he seeks to escape for the most part” and trusts you to determine whether imprisonment from his sarcophagus you’ll pursue the hellacious ride. and seek answers surrounding the cock his shotgun in style, and punch It’s all summed up in the pulsating ongoing demonic invasion. But here, everything from enemies to elevator outro, in which the Doom Slayer the real focus isn’t the story—it’s controls with a maniacal sense of is seen taking an elevator to the the combat. Within just half a minute power, helping to build character beginning of the game’s first real of the game’s start, Doom launches in subtle fashion. The prologue level. The sheer badassery of Doom you into battle against a handful of subsequently utilizes these traits is displayed here in full force, with enemies, and there are 28 demons to enhance the game’s fast-paced the main character going into a fit to slay in the first five minutes nature, taking advantage of the Doom of rage as he takes in a derogatory alone. This is a game that makes its Slayer’s hot temper to reduce lengthy audio link from Dr Samuel Hayden, intentions clear from the outset— story elements with the destruction of ABOVE It’s only set to the backdrop of Mick Gordon’s you’re here to kill demons, and the nearby scenery. a matter of breathtaking ‘At Doom’s Gate’ remix. minutes before story is merely an afterthought for Another way the prologue works to you encounter As the title screen hits, the music the most part. build speed is in its combat, which the first reaches its crescendo, pumping its The prologue foregoes some of takes the form of an arena-based demon-spawning volume and sending several dozen the more modern conventions of segment nearing its conclusion. At Gore Nest. shots of adrenalin pulsating through FPS game design. It’s a shock to the face value, this serves as little more BELOW The Doom the screen. It’s all timed to perfection, Slayer acquires system—go and watch a new than a means for dispatching his armored and and the results are mesmerizing. player’s reaction to the demons, but it also exists highly- I can’t think of any introductory immediacy of the combat, PASSING to accomplish a key customisable segments that have captured my THROUGH Praetor suit in Doom and you’ll see what I goal—forcing players to the prologue. attention in the way ’s prologue mean—but it also lends The Vault-Tec logo keep moving. Every bit has in recent years. And ultimately, itself to a sense of from Fallout is included of ammo, health, and id Software really didn’t have to intrigue and freshness, as an Easter egg on enemy movement is invest such care and attention in its the door leading helping to encapsulate to the first built to encourage the development, but in doing so, they’ve that old-school Doom feel. elevator. player to remain active. helped to entice both old-school One of the most effective Stay still, and you’re fans and a brand-new generation ways it accomplishes this is guaranteed to fail. of demon slayers to the series. You in the lack of cutscenes. Doom sets only get one chance to make a good its premise in a short space of time, Living hell first impression, especially in the and does so with minimal dialogue, Each and every footstep, competitive world of first-person featuring a completely voiceless main character animation, and story- shooters, and Doom accomplishes character who uses nothing but body building element is carefully crafted, this with one of the most language to convey his feelings. We helping to set out a statement of memorable and riveting opening see him crack his knuckles in anger, intent without ever making you feel sequences on the Xbox One. Q

WHAT GAMES DO YOU LOVE? SEND YOUR LUSTY THOUGHTS TO [email protected]

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 091 10 BEST MULTIPLAYER GAMES ON XBOX ONE

From battle royales and first-person shooters to team-based sports games and open-world adventures, many multiplayer games exist. So we thought we’d pick the finest ADAM BRYANT

092 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE extra

FIFA 18 The ultimate Xbox soccer game is also one of the best multiplayer games on console. Whether you’re sitting next to your pal trying to slyly look at his controller to see which way he’s sending his keeper in a penalty shootout, or smashing goals past randoms online with your perfectly-honed Ultimate Team squad, this soccer sensation has all the ingredients to make a multiplayer session memorable. It’s best playing against a pal in the same room, of course, so you can really rub it in when you nick a last-minute winner against the run of play, but FIFA’s just as good online… as long as you don’t mind dealing with grumpy players rage quitting.

MINECRAFT Multiplayer fun in its most simple form. With several different game modes and minigames for you to choose from, the game just keeps getting better and better. Thanks to the access to certains servers you can play competitively against other players, but if you just want to relax with friends or create your own types of games, you totally can. At one point we created a Hunger Games variant. In a level that was carefully crafted, we all stood on plinths in a large circle with a chest in the middle that held various different resources inside. Once the game begins there’s a huge scramble to grab whatever you can and make a run for it to prepare for hunting down your fellow players.

ROCKET LEAGUE This physics based title is still a regular in our multiplayer playlist. The set-up is simple: It’s not completely unlike soccer, you have your pitch, a ball, two teams, and two goal areas, but instead of human players you have acrobatic rocket- powered cars. Each game is usually around five minutes long, and you get to play as one-on-one or with up to two teams of four. There is a little bit of a learning curve when it comes to handling the ball, but once you’ve mastered the basics you’ll be well on your way to scoring clinch goals during intense matches. Regular updates to the game have added more game modes. Our particular favorite is the ‘Hoops’ mode, which is based on basketball.

DESTINY 2 Bungie has been at the multiplayer game for many years, first with the Halo series and now with Destiny. The multiplayer in the first Destiny was an absolute blast, but it definitely had a few issues. This is something, thankfully, the developers seemed to have fixed with Destiny 2, which is arguably more about skill this time around. The highlight of multiplayer can be found during the Iron Banner tournament, where your skill is really put to the test. In this Crucible game mode your armor and weapons make a difference to how powerful you are. Sure, even Destiny 2 still has its own problems, but with the upcoming update it’s looking to become so much better, and that can only be good news.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 093 extra

BATTLEFIELD 1 There are so many first-person shooters that we play, but we keep going back to Battlefield 1. There are various different game modes to choose from, but our favorite has to be the War Pigeon game mode. Similar to capture the flag, two teams battle against each other to capture a messenger pigeon, which is used to call in an artillery strike. The team that successfully catches the pigeon must keep hold of it for a short time to create the message that the pigeon will carry— players can write the message faster while staying still. The first team to do this three times wins (there’s no time limit). Just watch out for naughty people trying to shoot the poor pigeon out of the sky.

OVERWATCH This phenomenal squad-based first-person shooter has each of the eight players in the game forming a team of three from a range of eccentric and fun characters, or Heroes, that each have distinctly unique playstyles, and have their own set of weapons and abilities, with no two characters being the same (with some having great names like Doomfist, Roadhog and Widowmaker). There’s little more satisfying than when you discover your perfect combination of Heroes and everything falls into place and you achieve your first play of the game. Whether you want to play on your own or as part of a team, against real players or AI, there’s a variety of different game modes for you to grapple with.

GRAND THEFT AUTO ONLINE In a game whose foundations were built around rampant crime and abhorrent behavior you can expect the world of Grand Theft Auto Online to be a brutal place, but it’s a fun one. You’re free to simply roam the world, but taking part in the plethora of different game modes is where it’s at. From racing, parachute jump, and deathmatch games, to intense heist missions and stunt races, there is something for everyone. The game has seen a constant stream of free content updates for almost five years, the latest of which sees you teaming up with another player to drive weaponized vehicles. There’s never been a better time to jump into this rightly famous franchise.

HALO MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION Now this is a bit of a cheat because we’re actually highlighting four games with this beast of a collection, but we don’t care; we just want an excuse to include the Halo 2 multiplayer. There’s something for everyone, though, as this collection includes every single multiplayer map ever released for Halo 1, 2, 3 and 4. That’s a whole bunch of maps, 106 to be exact. But that’s not all, the Forge game mode is also included, which gives you the ability to craft your own custom maps and game types. Some of the most fun we’ve ever had in Halo was with messing around in Forge. From creating our own version of Cat and Mouse, using a Wraith and a bunch of Mongooses, to creating an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine.

094 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE FORTNITE This latest hot topic has taken the world by storm. The original Fortnite is a player- versus-environment co-op survival game, but an extra game mode was added in the form of a battle royale one. It has since become a standalone game, which in many ways has surpassed the original. Retaining the fortification construction mechanic from the original you go up against 99 other players to scavenge for armor and weapons and become the last surviving player, by either killing other players or waiting it out for others to do the same. The fact that the game is free-to-play has helped in its success in becoming a huge contender in the battle royale scene, but it’s a fantastic game regardless. Get it now.

SEA OF THIEVES One of the most unique multiplayer experiences of recent years. Although you can have a maximum of four members in a crew, you can make uneasy alliances with other crews and rove the treacherous seas taking on others, until their sudden and inevitable betrayal where they turn on you. Even playing on your own or with another person in a sloop can offer endless amounts of adventure. There aren’t many games where a larger crew can kill you, steal your chicken, allow you to chase them through a heavy storm, board their ship, exact revenge by killing them, steal the chicken back, teach them a lesson by nabbing the three chests they have on board, and then sail to a nearby outpost to cash in the bounty. Priceless.

More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 095 096 THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE DIRECTORIES 05 FOR MORE MOVIE AND TV REVIEWS, TV MOVIE AND FOR VISIT MORE GAMESRADAR.COM games 04 03 01 02

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. Just . Just THE BEST MOVIES AND TV THIS MONTH OXM TEAM movies television CHOICE

THE BEST GAMES WE’RE PLAYING AND THE FLORIDA PROJECT THE CITY & THE CITY WHY WE LOVE THEM FOR FANS OF Sherrybaby FOR FANS OF Hard Sun Sean Baker gained fame for shooting his Based on the China Miéville novel, this BBC Steve’s movie Tangerine with an iPhone 5. The miniseries takes place in twin European choice director returns with the delightful, cities. One shabby and debilitated, the SEA OF THIEVES sun-kissed The Florida Project, about a other ultra-sleek and modern. When a girl As my last act of six-year-old girl and her mother trying to goes missing in one, a weary detective power before my make ends meet in a Florida motel. from the other sets out to find her. departure, I insisted that the team let me be the captain, but they didn’t take too kindly to THE KILLING OF LOST IN SPACE that, so I’ve been stuck in the brig A SACRED DEER FOR FANS OF Star Trek Discovery ever since. It’s been weeks now, let FOR FANS OF The Lobster Banish all thoughts of the cheesy ’60s me out please. Ooh look, a barrel! A wealthy heart surgeon embarks on a show as well as the atrocious ’90s movie. strange friendship with a teenage boy. Is it Netflix’s new spin on Lost In Space is edgy just a midlife crisis, or is there something and cool, following the Robinson family as more sinister at play? We’re kept guessing they crash-land on a desolate planet and at each ominous turn. have to survive its brutal alien landscape.

SPIDER-MAN: TERRACE HOUSE HOMECOMING FOR FANS OF Big Brother FOR FANS OF The Breakfast Club The Japanese reality show that’s taken the Dani’s Taking inspiration from ’80s teen movies, world by storm, Terrace House introduces choice Homecoming injects some new mirth into us to three girls and three boys who move STARDEW VALLEY the MCU. The young web-slinger is played in together. Strangely comforting and Spring is in full swing charmingly by rising star Tom Holland, while quickly addictive, you’ll find yourself now, so I got a Michael Keaton is the menacing Vulture. inhaling the whole series in one sitting. hankering to grow some virtual vegetables again. No matter how many hours I play, VALERIAN CHEF’S TABLE: PASTRY there’s always something wonderful FOR FANS OF Speed Racer FOR FANS OF The Great British Bake-Off about starting a fresh farm and If there’s one thing we love Luc Besson for, Each season of Chef’s Table has been a building it up from nothing. it’s his penchant for visual excess. And masterpiece for foodies, bringing chefs Valerian definitely delivers—the entire from all across the world to our screens. movie looks like a crate of popping candy The new season is devoted to patisserie exploded across our screen. It’s also a and includes Christina Tosi, dessert loopy and constantly thrilling experience. supremo from New York’s famous Milk Bar.

THE BEGUILED 6 BALLOONS FOR FANS OF Picnic At Hanging Rock FOR FANS OF Rachel Getting Married Sofia Coppola’s dreamy retelling of the ’70s In this new indie drama from Netflix, Dave Adam’s Clint Eastwood movie takes place in the Franco plays a drug-addicted father who’s choice Deep South during the Civil War. When a been admitted to rehab. While there, his CONDEMNED soldier is injured, he’s taken in by the sister must take care of his young daughter. Sat for hours looking women of a nearby boarding school, but Sometimes family ties are the most painful, at the games on my desire and jealousy soon begin to sprout. and 6 Balloons cuts us to the core. shelf prompted me to grab the closest thing to hand, and so I popped this survival horror A CURE FOR WELLNESS THE ASSASSINATION game into my Xbox One. The game is FOR FANS OF Shutter Island OF GIANNI VERSACE still surprisingly nerve-racking, A beautifully baroque horror that calls upon FOR FANS OF The People Vs OJ Simpson despite the dodgy visuals. the trope of the insane asylum, A Cure For There are only a few more weeks to watch Wellness features Dane DeHaan as a young this second season of American Crime businessman who travels to the Swiss Alps Story, featuring a revelatory turn from to retrieve a colleague from a sanatorium. Darren Criss as a softly menacing and Once there, secrets begin to unravel. achingly lonely young serial killer.

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More Xbox news at gamesradar.com/oxm THE OFFICIAL XBOX MAGAZINE 097 OXM OUT the disc slot They make the games we love, but what do they play for fun? We ask developers to pick their faves from Xbox history. This month: Derek Bradley

I remember the first Xbox console coming out. It was the most powerful system on the market. For [1] graphics, there wasn’t much that could compare with Halo: Combat Evolved [1]. I loved the social aspect of System Linking multiple Xboxes at a friend’s house so we could jump in for competitive play. Next came The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Derek Bradley [2]. It was eye-opening to experience such a rich Game Director, Ashen at Aurora44 3D open world. This was a place where I could [2] After starting in the adventure for hours, constantly being amazed by games industry in New Zealand at a the detailed environments and scenarios I would developer called stumble across. There was something relaxing Sidhe, Derek moved Morrowind to work at Weta about that was the perfect opposite Digital to work on to the fast-paced world of Halo. Jade Empire [3] things like The Hobbit and Tintin movies. and Knights Of The Old Republic [4] were the next When he and some stop. While beautiful games in their own right, the colleagues decided to work on a game, deep character progression, bonding with NPCs, [4] they landed on the and unique combat systems are what grabbed me. concept of Ashen, which is coming to There was something satisfying about switching Xbox One this year. between the White Demon Style and Thousand Cuts Style. Recently, I have become absorbed in [3] games that are mechanically satisfying. Super Meat Boy [5] fits this stage. I love its snappy, pixel perfect controls and how, even though it is brutally difficult, any mistake you make is your own. There [6] is so much great game design that culminates in a successful run as you watch all of your failed attempts charge across the stage to get chopped up. Games like Cuphead [6] and Dark Souls continue to carry this sort of satisfying experience.

LOVE THIS ISSUE? THE NEXT ONE WILL BE READY FOR YOU ON JUNE 26

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