The last Guardian has been in development and under the wraps for the longest time. But close to being a decade in development hasn’t made the project see a decadent forefront. With that in mind and the fact that Sony has promised to improve and better utilise the existing features of their current generation gaming platform, we have a number of things that can make The last Guardian and all the more memorable experience.

The game sharing the lineage of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian is being looked forward to with emphatic fervour and anticipation which is only growing as the days pass. here’s a bunch of features that The Last Guardian can use to make it an experience we’d all remember all the more fondly.

15. Controller Touchpad

The PS4 controller’s touchpad was a nice feature that was unprecedented in the controllers’ category. As ingenious as the said move may have been, it hasn’t been used as cleverly. The touchpad of the controller can be used for non-primary activities in games.

The Last Guardian offers a great opportunity for the utilisation of the same, for example, in solving puzzles, managing inventory or for switching between objects, weapons or abilities. Of course, it need not be limited to only this game, but it would be a start.

Cloud Imperium Games’ founder, Christopher Roberts has repeatedly made it clear that Star Citizen would hold on to no compromises when it comes to the game’s experience. But considering the ambitious scale of the game and what the creators mean to deliver, the game’s requirements are may be beyond the realm of even mid-range PC games.

In the scenario where Star Citizen manages to relent and actually mean to accommodate the not so hard-core gamers and above average PC users, here are a few reasons as to why Star Citizen should be on the new gen consoles.

15. Console market is huge

The new gen consoles have a huge fan base as of now and that has to work in favour of a game that is on to tackle such an immense audience.

As good as the gameplay may be, the game was equally looked forward to for its graphical fidelity. Now the old generation of consoles may be holding back games like this, but Monolith has done an exceptional job of making the game run and look beautiful on all platforms and give the PC users a little extra. But does that little extra really count them out as a distinct advantage for the PC users?

"The Xbox One version of the game runs at 900p at 30fps while the PS4 version of the game runs at 1080p, but even with that much of a resolution difference, here again it takes a keen eye to cipher out the differences between the two versions of the game."

Developers nowadays are trying their level best to achieve console parity these gone days. But certain hardware limitations do not make that utterly possible. nevertheless, they have come very close to making games look equal on both, the Xbox ONe and The PS4.

With Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, the differences in console graphics are again reduced to almost negligible. The Xbox One version of the game runs at 900p at 30fps while the PS4 version of the game runs at 1080p, but even with that much of a resolution difference, here again it takes a keen eye to cipher out the differences between the two versions of the game.

The Xbox One version of the game runs at 900p at 30fps while the PS4 version of the game runs at 1080p, but even with that much of a resolution difference, here again it takes a keen eye to cipher out the differences between the two versions of the game.

The anti-aliasing technique in place seems to be that of post-processing; the AA technique could be that of SMAA since object edges don’t seem very blurred, which is, usually, the case with the FXAA technique.

Surprisingly, the PC version seems to have a downgraded version of the AA techniques used although that problem is solved at high resolution, albeit at computational cost.

" The texture and shadow mapping on high settings is the same as that on the consoles, although the Xbox One seems to have shadows of a minutely inferior quality, possibly because of shadows being rendered at a lower resolution than other elements."

The PC version of the game benefits a little more when it comes to number of polygons in an area, which is almost always higher than the console version, if the PC version is set to high settings. This is most noticeable with certain environmental elements and especially the trees and bushes about you. All in all, the PC version appears a little more – bushy.

All in all, the PC version appears a little more – bushy. The texture and shadow mapping on high settings is the same as that on the consoles, although the Xbox One seems to have shadows of a minutely inferior quality, possibly because of shadows being rendered at a lower resolution than other elements.

The lighting system is consistently similar across all three platforms with some nice ambient occlusion and almost identical anisotropic filtering making the further off ground seem beautiful. Crepuscular rays play their part nicely too, adding to the appeal of the game in sunlit areas as it flits through holes in buildings and outside through the canopy.

Where the PC version does take the lead is when it comes to draw distances. The PC version of the game handles draw distances fairly well as all the elements seem pre-rendered while the console version may have you be putting up with a slight texture pop-in.

"Monolith Production have tried to give a similar experience to all platform owners by shearing off the differences in the graphical aspect of the game. While some may find this a cheer worthy fact, high-end PC owners are a bit disappointed with only a marginal difference over the consoles’ outputs."

The 3D and 2D skybox too are the same across the three platforms.Considering the gargantuan requirement of 6GB of GDDR RAM on the PC to run it with ultra textures. It doesn’t seem like a fair trade-off. But it does for the people who have that kind of hardware waiting to be pushed to its maximum potential. The ultra texture pack does add more detailing to the game, but it is not as much of a difference as one might expect from the hardware requirement for the same.

It doesn’t seem like a fair trade-off. But it does for the people who have that kind of hardware waiting to be pushed to its maximum potential. The ultra texture pack does add more detailing to the game, but it is not as much of a difference as one might expect from the hardware requirement for the same.

The game maintains a consistent 30 fps rate which is just as much as we could ask for. High-end PCs could, of course, push this to 60 fps.

Monolith Production have tried to give a similar experience to all platform owners by shearing off the differences in the graphical aspect of the game. While some may find this a cheer worthy fact, high-end PC owners are a bit disappointed with only a marginal difference over the consoles’ outputs.

The older generation of the consoles has been cut down significantly especially when it comes to the Nemesis System owing to the sheer enormity of the system that the older consoles could not have handled. On the graphical front, the game runs identically on both the system at 720p at 30fps. There are frame rate drops in polygon heavy areas or when you pan the camera too fast but otherwise the game holds its own and is not only playable, but enjoyable.

" Even with some minor differences that set apart the consoles, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor's experience is almost identical across the new gen platforms as well on the PC. There are trade-offs involved when it comes to which is a better version, but they don't amount up to an awful lot. "

The anisotropic filtering and AO are wholly absent, while texture mapping has been given a little more im[ortance to make the game look better.

On the graphical front, the game runs identically on both the system at 720p at 30fps. There are frame rate drops in polygon heavy areas or when you pan the camera too fast but otherwise the game holds its own and is not only playable, but enjoyable. The anisotropic filtering and AO are wholly absent, while texture mapping has been given a little more im[ortance to make the game look better.

Shadows too are not really up to the mark but then there’s only so much you could squeeze out of the duo of almost a decade old consoles.Naturally, with the hardware in consideration, the game has minimal depth of field and tons of texture pop-in. But that is all right because Monolith’s focus has been on making the gameplay experience as consistent as possible and that, is largely the case.

Even with some minor differences that set apart the consoles, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor’s experience is almost identical across the new gen platforms as well on the PC. There are trade-offs involved when it comes to which is a better version, but they don’t amount up to an awful lot.

The PC is superior to the consoles, but that is provided you have good enough hardware for that. The only thing that the Xbox One falls short of in this game is the poorer shadow quality, but in all taken together, this amounts to nigh on nothing.

Amongst all the gory vengeance that will be witnessed in the prologue, there are a number of gameplay features that haven’t been seen before or make a return after a long time.
Here’s a few that you might have missed.

15. Buddy System

Adding to the vast plethora of options available for Snake to take out enemies, a new feature makes entry, i.e., the Buddy System. While this may seem to convey the meaning that your friend can join you in the vengeful killings, it isn’t the case. Instead, Snake has a new female character namely, Quiet, who is there to help him in tight spots and even otherwise to help him cruise and co-ordinate through various missions. There will be other characters available to help Snake on his endeavours.

Instead, Snake has a new female character namely, Quiet, who is there to help him in tight spots and even otherwise to help him cruise and co-ordinate through various missions. There will be other characters available to help Snake on his endeavours.

Forza Motorsport 2 leaves us to our devices to limn the differences between the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One version of the game. The generational difference is apparent, no doubt, but it isn’t as stark as one might expect in a few respects.

"The Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 2 employs a commendable use of the lighting system that really steps up the visuals. Add to that the significantly improved aliasing - seemingly MSAA - on objects and even shadows, the game sure does look slick. The depth of field has been improved considerably, but that has come at the cost of object detailing. "

There’s no question about the Xbox One version of the game being better than its almost decade-old predecessor. But what needs to be questioned is just HOW much better does the new console fare?

While it’s obvious that Forza Horizon 2 as such is not as detailed as the Forza Motorsport 5, it’s worthy of notice that the latter wasn’t an open world game, thus, the developers could focus more on improving the set pieces and designs of the relatively limited objects in Motorsport 5.

The Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 2 employs a commendable use of the lighting system that really steps up the visuals.

Add to that the significantly improved aliasing – seemingly MSAA – on objects and even shadows, the game sure does look slick. The depth of field has been improved considerably, but that has come at the cost of object detailing.

High-resolution textures are in place although at times the shadows and reflections may feel rather lacking, especially when using the driver’s perspective inside the car.

The dashboard seems rather pale and pallid as it doesn’t reflect light appropriately; apparently disregarding the intensity of lights and at times, even not respecting the direction of lights.

"The foliage is decent if anything, but by no means is it stupendous. Trees and leaves of bushes appear to be odd, rejected Lego blocks but this is not very noticeable when you’re involved in the game. The vistas around you too, at certain handful of occasions make you feel as if something were amiss as the terrain at times seems blocky with sub-par texture mapping."

But outside, the world is beautiful. The lighting system really mingles with the apt reflections to give the game a solid appearance. The cars are appropriately detailed although screen space ambient occlusion could have received a slight bump as some crevices along the rocky terrain and even in your cars lack the absence of light that should be there.

The foliage is decent if anything, but by no means is it stupendous. Trees and leaves of bushes appear to be odd, rejected Lego blocks but this is not very noticeable when you’re involved in the game. The vistas around you too, at certain handful of occasions make you feel as if something were amiss as the terrain at times seems blocky with sub-par texture mapping.

But such instances are remarkably few. The tarmac has been given ample attention. It reacts to light brilliantly, present glares when it should and paling as dusk sets in. Even so, weather effects and their ramifications on the world are almost wholly missing.

The Xbox 360 version is lacking in all fields and that’s no surprise. With the 360 version too, Forza Horizon 2 seems a little bereft of aesthetic beauty when compared to Forza Motorsport 4. Again, the differences are due to the fact that Forza Horizon is an open world game; sacrifices are imminent.

"Sumo Digital has utilised the limited hardware remarkably well in their own way and this has resulted in a splendid looking game going by last gen standards. There is hardly any more effort that the Xbox 360 developers of the game could have done to make it even better; but the Xbox 360 version is no dumb changeling. "

It goes to Sumo Digital’s credit towards the efforts they put into making the Xbox 360 version of Forza Horizon 2 the way it is. A significant number of elements of the game are different from its Xbox One version which makes it clear that the Xbox 360 version is not just a stripped down version of its successor, but a properly worked upon title.

Sumo Digital has modified the Forza Horizon engine to suit their needs while Playground Games has optimised the Forza Motorsport engine to cater to their demands.

Sumo Digital has modified the Forza Horizon engine to suit their needs while Playground Games has optimised the Forza Motorsport engine to cater to their demands.

Sumo Digital has utilised the limited hardware remarkably well in their own way and this has resulted in a splendid looking game going by last gen standards. There is hardly any more effort that the Xbox 360 developers of the game could have done to make it even better; but the Xbox 360 version is no dumb changeling. The Xbox One version of the game steals the show, but the 360 version is worth the remembrance.

The Xbox One version of the game steals the show, but the 360 version is worth the remembrance.

Destiny was slated to be the next big thing in console gaming. Coming from the makers of Halo, it was expected to create the same charged up environment as we had witnessed back at the break of the new millennium. Turns out, that all the hype was for naught as the game received lukewarm, and often bad reviews almost throughout.

This means either of the two things: that the game was actually bad, or that everyone who enjoyed the game is still playing the game and have been glued enough to not spare time to care for reviews. Whatever the case, the game has some things that it was expected to cruise over. Here’s a bunch of places where Destiny falls short of the finish line.

15. Peter Dinklage’s Voice

We had gotten all pepped up when we got to know that Peter Dinklage was going to do the voiceover for Ghost in Destiny. Little did we know that we’ll be treated to an insipid, mechanical voice which could be just as well substituted by the Windows Narrator. Peter’s voice over in the game is way beyond underwhelming. It’s lost in some deep chasm that you don’t even know exists, and you just hear the remnants of that waning voice and forgetting it is the easiest task.

Peter’s voice over in the game is way beyond underwhelming. It’s lost in some deep chasm that you don’t even know exists, and you just hear the remnants of that waning voice and forgetting it is the easiest task.

With a plethora of crafty new refinements and tweaks, the game takes a huge leap towards realism. It may be that you may not even notice a handful of changes made in the heat of the game, but this is exactly what makes the game so excellent.

"The pitch has received a dandy set of upgrades that make it seem all the better than its predecessor. The 3D grass rendering received a significant overhaul with each blade popping out in utmost detail and even having dew effects on it. The grass even gets shorn off by the boots of player as they shoot the ball home. "

The animations and physics too are identical on the consoles and in the same manner, the consoles render almost all other eclectic points of contention unyielding. Thus, what’s left to fuss over and get frenzied about is the changes that the latest entry in the game has had. The pitch has received a dandy set of upgrades that make it seem all the better than its predecessor.

The 3D grass rendering received a significant overhaul with each blade popping out in utmost detail and even having dew effects on it. The grass even gets shorn off by the boots of player as they shoot the ball home. The playfield is reactive to the action happening on it, with it gradually deteriorating bit by bit as sliding tackles and and weather pattern; you can see skid marks and water getting kicked up on rainy days and even player kits get a green hue after sliding tackles.

The playfield is reactive to the action happening on it, with it gradually deteriorating bit by bit as sliding tackles and and weather pattern; you can see skid marks and water getting kicked up on rainy days and even player kits get a green hue after sliding tackles.

"The stadiums have been redone with some nicely detailed additions to the easily overlooked trivialities. The crowds now get pumped up with their chanting and even commentators prattle accordingly. Collision physics seems improved as player impacts seem a tad more believable; still not excellent, but they are a vast improvement over the last game. "

Players’ chests heave rapidly as they make a strenuous run for the goal, with their hair bouncing in concordance with their movement. The stadiums have been redone with some nicely detailed additions to the easily overlooked trivialities.

The crowds now get pumped up with their chanting and even commentators prattle accordingly. Collision physics seems improved as player impacts seem a tad more believable; still not excellent, but they are a vast improvement over the last game. The goalposts teeter as a powerful shot hits them and the corner flags too, go down with a ball hit.

A new lighting system promises a richer look to the whole game as player skins, kits and other ambience objects react to the stadium lights and the natural light. Ambience occlusion doesn’t seem to be in place although soft shadows do a nice job of lending depth to objects. Depth of field is a new addition to the game, with out of focus objects receiving a blurry appearance.

The texture mapping is obviously improved and so is there a noticeable step up in the anti-aliasing used; possibly a mid-level MSAA. The one difference that does manifest in the console deadlock is the motion blur effect, which is entirely absent on the Xbox One. While the absence does give sharp and slick visuals, it comes at the cost of realism.

"To much of our dismay, FIFA 15 is one game that doesn’t give PC users a chance to cater to their hubris with more fervour. The highest graphics settings at best match up to the new gen console versions only and it retains the motion blur too. In addition, the anti-aliasing is bolstered a slight bit but it makes a marginal difference that won’t manifest itself unless upon a close perusal of game footage. "

To much of our dismay, FIFA 15 is one game that doesn’t give PC users a chance to cater to their hubris with more fervour. The highest graphics settings at best match up to the new gen console versions only and it retains the motion blur too. In addition, the anti-aliasing is bolstered a slight bit but it makes a marginal difference that won’t manifest itself unless upon a close perusal of game footage.

The PC can run the game beyond full HD if you have a good enough graphics card and an appropriate TV. Another queer thing is that across the new consoles and even the PC, anisotropic filtering gets affected considerably with even short distances. What it means is that the grass loses its three-dimensional awesomeness even if you look a few feet beyond a vantage point. Of course, all the aforementioned things are showcased mostly in replays and close-ups.

What it means is that the grass loses its three-dimensional awesomeness even if you look a few feet beyond a vantage point. Of course, all the aforementioned things are showcased mostly in replays and close-ups.

"Nonetheless, the textures are visible improved as are player movements, although the physics doesn’t seem to have as significant an upgrade. The lighting and shadow effects remain the same as that of the last game, albeit with a few tweaks. "

The PS3 and the Xbox 360 run at a consistent 30FPS but are affected by a slight horizontal screen tearing and the usual jaggies make the game their home, but that’s because the systems’ hardware doesn’t allow them to throw the aliasing out the window.

Nonetheless, the textures are visible improved as are player movements, although the physics doesn’t seem to have as significant an upgrade. The lighting and shadow effects remain the same as that of the last game, albeit with a few tweaks.

But in the larger perspective, the old gen doesn’t manage to present a radical difference with FIFA 15 in comparison to FIFA 14, having reached its maximum potential a fair bit of time back.

Video game level designers have made gamers venture in all kinds of strange and fascinating lands. From exploring the solar system and checking out new planets, to prowling through dreams and painted worlds and what not; there seems to be no end to the limits that levels can be set in in games.

As much interest as unique and thoughtful worlds may present to us, sometimes it’s the replication of our own planet’s locations that has us enraptured; of course such levels have to be in concordance with the theme of the game. Over the course of time, many a games have taken to making gamers skitter across snow levels as they try to maintain their foothold over precarious edges otherwise, just try to avoid the slippery situation. Here’s a bunch of game levels that really had us nit-picking, appreciating and enjoying them all at the same time.

15. Castle Crashers – Ice Fortress

Castle Crashers is not an exceptional game, but it is a fun game to if you have your cronies loitering about doing nothing. Nevertheless, the Ice Fortress level of the game presents a little more fun than other levels in the game, and most of it is owed to the music of the level.

Although there’s little enough new stuff that the level offers, but get a few nifty power-ups and the level makes for quite an exhilarating experience.