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WELCOME

The dawning of a new console generation is exciting, alright, but it can also be a painful one for those who want to join in the fun, but can’t afford to splash £450 on their hobby just before Christmas. So while the Xbox Series X may be Microsoft’s WIN full-fat current-gen offering, 58 I’ve found myself unexpectedly A BUNDLE OF smitten by the Xbox Series S. Sure, its spec isn’t as mouth- 2K GAMES! watering as its bigger brother, See page 35 but it still has plenty going for it. First, it looks absolutely lovely under a television: its compact form factor is visually appealing, and brings it in line 6 with the more svelte consoles of generations past. But more than that, it brings current-gen Attract mode Interface gaming to people who might otherwise find themselves priced out of the market. Coupled with Xbox Game Pass, 06. Baldur’s Gate III 28. Enter the Matrix the Series S opens up a whole Larian Studios on reviving a The making of an ambitious yet library of triple-A titles and indie dungeon-crawling classic flawed movie tie-in games to a broader audience. The teenage version of myself 14. Berserk Boy 34. Lottie Bevan would no doubt have lusted Z2team channel the spirit of the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Eivor: after the Series X, but its price Contents Mega Man Zero series the feminist hero we need 70 96 tag would’ve placed it far out of my reach; at £200 cheaper, the Series S would’ve been 16.  White Shadow 38. Best of the Best a more realistic proposition. An expressionistic, dystopian Our pick of the finest PS4/Xbox Toolbox Rated This contrasts sharply with my platformer from Germany One-era games, large and small memories of the Saturn’s announcement in the mid- nineties; as a Sega fan, it was 18.  Mundaun 70. Silver Snipers 50. Build a city of text 92. Next-gen roundup harrowing to learn of its price at Monochrome horror high up Video gaming’s positive impact on Create a vast, explorable metropolis We sample the first crop of PS5 and launch: £399.99 – or about £775 in the Swiss mountains older players’ well-being using the ink engine XB X/S delights adjusted for inflation. Gaming may still be an expensive hobby, but it’s at least more 20. News 78. Core Blimey 58. Big Bang 96. Yakuza: Like A Dragon approachable than it was a few Sega arcade closures, Codemasters’ We chat to Manticore about its free- Ways to deal with a universe of Sega’s JRPG sequel proves to be decades ago. sale, and more from the past month to-play creative sandbox game development issues a gangster’s paradise Enjoy the new issue. 24. Letters 84. System Profile 64. Source Code 101.  Art of Rally Your latest thoughts, feedback, A look back at the Sega Mega Drive Code the tank-busting bomb The joy of hurtling around in boxy Ryan Lambie Editor and general ranting and its best rare titles from Toaplan’s Tiger-Heli little racing cars

26. Incoming 90. Steve McNeil 66. Theme and politics 106. Backwards compatible New Halo, angry warlords, The games that could make a family How to use them to write better Gorgeous FM sound, Elder Scrolls, 28 and a whole lot of gunk Christmas bearable narratives and other retro stuff

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