Topic: The everything Xbox thread

@Ralizah Ah, okay. Figures that I wouldn't know that, seeing as I don't own any of Sony's consoles, so I don't keep up with any related news either.

@Anti-Matter So good of you to actually react to my entire post, instead of trying to be a smarty pants...

So I think where I'm at with Microsoft is this:

I want to play Rare Replay. I want to replay some of my 360 games, but I HATE the 360 controller. I want access to GamePass. And, most importantly, I want a more powerful system than the PS4 to play Cyberpunk 2077 (was originally going to play on my PC, but it requires Windows 10, and I am NOT upgrading to that OS for the sake of one game).

So, if it's cheapish ($349.99 or so would be perfect, I think) and has a disc drive, I can see myself grabbing a Series S this holiday. Otherwise, I might try to see if I can pick up an Xbox One X in a sale, since retailers will likely want to reduce their stock of a discontinued device going into the holiday season.

@Ralizah What's wrong with the Xbox 360 controller?

@ThanosReXXX It's one of the more uncomfortable controllers I've ever held. The triggers feel like they weren't designed for use with a human hand. The plastic on my 360 controllers feels... cheap. The D-Pad is practically unusable for 2D games.

I've only handled the Xbone pad once or twice, but it's far sleeker, and while I'm not a fan of the D-Pad placement, the D-Pad itself is basically fine.

That was also the gen with the DS3 and the Wiimote, so not a great gen for controllers all-around. It was a solid improvement over the OG Xbox's controller, at least.

@Ralizah I always thought that the cheapest looking/feeling controller is the PS3 one.

Xbox One and PS4 are on the same level for me. Then it is the 360 and last is the Switch given that I have not yet invested in Switch Pro controller.

@Zuljaras I've never actually played a PS3, so that's highly possible. Controllers sucked all-around that gen. Even the Wii Classic Controller feels terrible in the hand.

If the Series S exists, isn't it supposed to be all-digital .... ? I'd expect them to launch 2 versions of Series X, like PS5 but not convinced they'd want to do something like the S at launch

@Ralizah Really? Wow, I couldn't disagree more. Besides the GameCube controller, I find the Xbox 360 controller to be the best one I've ever used. I can easily reach those triggers, and I don't really have big hands or anything, so I wonder what you meant with that part. As for the Xbox One controller being far sleeker: as an owner of both consoles, I honestly don't see that, when comparing from all sides.

The only thing that makes it slightly less bulky, is the now built-in battery compartment, which on the Xbox 360 controller obviously was sticking out more, but that's about it. The prongs/handles are the same size, stick and button placement is similar, as are the triggers and buttons, so I can quite comfortably use both of them.

I have no problem with the feel of the plastic either. But eh... to each their own, I suppose, so if you don't feel the same, then fair enough.

Personally, if I would have to put a "feels cheap" label on any controllers, then it would probably be the Classic controller for the Wii, and the Pro Controller for the Wii U, because those feel extremely light. But even those don't classify as bad controllers for me.

Agreed on the D-pad, though. Although with the later, deluxe editions of the controller, you had the interchangeable clickable D-pad, which is already a big improvement.

@ThanosReXXX I'm in the same boat with the Xbox one controller, it's too heavy and bulky. I don't find it comfy at all. My wife has it worse, it makes her wrist sound like a cement mixer. They could do with making a smaller version for people with smaller hands

The triggers on the PS4 controller suck, but apart from that I much prefer the dual shock to the Xbox controller.

@Wargoose So I take it you were never a big of the original Xbox's controller, eh?

I'm really not happy with the changes to the PS5's controller, personally. It seems far bulkier and less curvy than the DS4.

@Wargoose He didn't complain about the Xbox One controller, though...

@Ralizah Oh yeah, I only played the original Xbox briefly at a friend's house, and the Xbox one controller is definitely an improvement on that.

I've got an Xbox one, I like what they're doing with backwards compatibility and stuff like that. However seeing the new Xbox still using that controller is definitely in the con column for me personally.

I'm currently using the Wii U Pro controller on the Switch, via an 8bitdo receiver. I might look into something similar with the next gen consoles. As controllers ain't cheap

@ThanosReXXX sorry misread, don't drink and post kids

@Wargoose I only do that on Saturdays...

@Wargoose I've been doing the same re: Wii U Pro, considering I refuse to pay $65+ for a controller when I have a perfectly good one that, lack of rumble or gyro aside, is perfectly functional for almost every game I play when docked.

@DarthNocturnal Oh thats good to hear, I think I'll probably end up getting one eventually to play Hellblade 2 and Obsidians new game(Fallout New Vegas is one of my favourite rpgs).

My journey through the Gears series continues. Finished Gears of War 2. Awesome game, really picks up pace during the second half. Definitely preferred it to the first game.

Just started Gears of War 3 now. About 4 hours in. I like that they've tightened up the controls quite bit, but what's with the massive change in visual style they've gone with? Gears 1 and 2 were almost defined by that dark gritty style. Gears 3 has been entirely colourful so far, with outdoor environments and the sun shining. It's a really weird change in tone for no apparent reason.

@DarthNocturnal

Yeah I remember there was that period when everything tried to be dark and gritty, almost as if games were trying to prove they're not for kids anymore.

But I didn't realize Gears of War ditched that before Gears 4. It kinda messes with the whole tone of the game.

Digital Foundry explains why Halo infinite looks like this and the good news is that the problem will be fixed with the ray tracing patch (Series X).

Basically, unlike cinematic games like The Last of Us II that uses static lighting (with a lot of inconsistencies), Halo Infinite uses dynamic lighting and what was shown was basically within a shadowy area, away from the sun and with no artificial lighting. This makes textures look flatter than they really are.

I'll bite too. Then why do you care if you can't buy Xbox consoles and games in your country? Those games don't sell that much on any platform anyway, the best-selling Japanese games are another kind of games: Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Persona, Pokemon... Stop posting that there arent's girly quirky Kawaii games on Xbox because once is enough and that is not going to change.

Absolutely.