Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 comes to the service on October 25th for cloud, console, and PC. However, as recently announced, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty: Warzone will also get cloud support on the same day (at least for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers). Ashen also returns on October 29th for cloud, consoles, and PC.

For PC players craving Halloween hijinks, Dead Island 2 debuts for PC via Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on October 31st. StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection follow on November 5th.

Of course, several titles are leaving the service on October 31st. Check them out below.

• Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Headbangers (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Inkulinati (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Lonely Mountains: Downhill (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Mineko’s Night Market (Cloud, Console, and PC)

THE SABOTEUR

The definition of a cult classic, Pandemic Studios’ 2009 World War 2 stealth action game is one that deserved more praise than it got back in the day. Though it certainly had issues, it had more than enough strengths to make up for them, from an incredible visual aesthetic and an atmospheric setting to excellent open world action and much more.

Terminator: Resistance Enhanced

Terminator: Resistance is a fun first-person shooter based on the popular movie which allows players a ton of flexibility in how they choose to go about the many encounters peppered throughout the story. You can choose to sneak through enemy areas and pick them off one by one, or you could just go in guns blazing, or anything in between. The Enhanced version soups up the original in a wide variety of ways, which makes it the best way to experience this underrated shooter.

Dying light 2

Developer Techland’s latest Dying Light 2 might not have fulfilled most of its promises, but it’s still a solid game that’s worthy of your attention. It excellently builds upon the foundations laid in the original, and meshes them well with new mechanics like paragliding and improved combat. Add to that some gorgeous graphics and oodles of content, and Dying Light 2 becomes a really great game that players can sink dozens upon dozens of hours into.

Haven

Released in 2020, Haven is an indie gem that tells the story of two lovers trying to make a life on a distant planet. It features a really charming story with beautiful characters, and while the gameplay mechanics are really simple – they work pretty well within the context of the game itself. Between this and a highly imaginative world, Haven has the capability to keep you engaged for a long time.

Bugsnax

Bugsnax looks like a rather childish game at first glance with its cartoony characters and Pokemon-style game, and while that notion isn’t completely wrong – it isn’t indicative of the full picture either. Bugsnax’s story can veer into pretty dark territory at times, and the gameplay revolving around constantly upgrading your snacks is surprisingly addictive for all age groups.

Weird West

WolfEye Studios’ Weird West is an action RPG that combines a familiar Wild West setting with dark fantasy elements that culminate in a world that looks like no other. The gameplay is pretty open-ended in its nature, and players are encouraged to come up with creative solutions for the presented problems. Add to that some quality writing, and Weird West becomes a really gratifying experience.

Aragami 2

Aragami 2 is one of the very few stealth games in the current gaming landscape, but what makes it special is the solid foundation of mechanics that it operates on. Aragami 2 is all about hiding in the shadows, carefully surveying your surroundings, and using your tools and abilities to pick out enemies and complete your objectives while being a complete ghost. The story might not be the most interesting, but the gameplay is engaging enough to make you want to keep playing regardless.

Evil West

Flying Wild Hog recently released Evil West to some great critical reception, but the game unfortunately never received the love and appreciation on a commercial level. Evil West puts you in the shoes of a cowboy hunting for monstrous creatures, and that weird premise has been wonderfully realized here – which makes for a fresh setting. Add to that visceral gameplay and high-fidelity graphics, and Evil West becomes a game that’s really hard to pass on.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy suffered from a lot of skepticism after Marvel’s Avengers flopped hard, which is part of the reason why it never got much mainstream attention. But those who have played it will most likely sing endless praises about the story and its simple yet fresh combat mechanics, and we can’t really argue with that. Guardians of the Galaxy is a really solid game that sadly flew under the radar for many gamers, but it is a game that is most definitely worth your attention.

Lost Judgment

The original Judgment was a fun spin on the Yakuza formula, and Lost Judgment does an equally good job of building upon those mechanics. The detective murder mystery at play never fails to keep one guessing, and those narrative beats are punctuated with some excellently choreographed fights and chase sequences – which makes for a thrilling ride through and through.

Chernobylite

Chernobylite is set 30 years after the disaster at the nuclear plant and focuses on a physicist that returns to seek out his beloved. Though players will have to deal with hostile soldiers, including Stalkers that roam the zone, they can recruit teammates to their cause. Crafting equipment and weapons is the key to survival but keep in mind that any character can die with a wrong decision. Two graphics modes are available for the PS5 version – Performance and Resolution. The former offers 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second gameplay with “higher graphics quality.” The latter is dynamic 4K and 30 FPS with ray tracing and improvements to shadows, environments and texture quality.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Sackboy: A Big Adventure was one of the PS5’s launch titles that sadly got overshadowed by the likes of Demon’s Souls and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a charming ride through some gorgeously knit levels, and the platforming also does a good job of introducing new kinds of obstacles at every turn. It’s a very relaxing game that doesn’t ask much from the player, and that alone has a very distinct kind of charm.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name might not be the franchise at its finest, but it is a game that has plenty of merits to its name. The gameplay transports us back to the series’ brawling roots, and the inclusion of multiple playstyles also makes combat a medium of personal expression. Of course, you also get a whole host of side activities to indulge in apart from the main story – so there’s that to consider as well.

Outriders

Developer People Can Fly’s Outriders is a pretty competent looter shooter that not only nails the shooting but also manages to create a progression loop where you are constantly getting more powerful and facing equally challenging obstacles. The story isn’t the best, and there are some balance issues here and there – but Outriders can be a really fun game to sink your teeth into, and it gets even better if you have a couple of friends raiding alongside you.

Solar Ash

Solar Ash takes place in a fantasy world where you must complete a series of challenges to save the world from imminent doom. Developed by Heart Machine, Solar Ash boasts a beautiful art style and a solid movement system with fluid animations and a great sense of flow to the gameplay proceedings. It has a few rough edges here and there, but it has its fair share of merits as well.

The Crew Motorfest

The Crew Motorfest aims to resolve most if not all of the issues with prior releases, and the end result is definitely remarkable. The smaller map means that it has been curated with plenty of attention to detail, and the selection of racing events also features some much-needed variety which ensures the gameplay doesn’t get stale after a while. It borrows a lot of ideas and elements from Forza Horizon 5, but that doesn’t make it a bad game by any means.

Lords of the Fallen 2023 

There have been a number of souslikes that have simply copy pasted ideas from FromSoftware’s games but 2023’s Lords of the Fallen is different. Set in a dark fantasy world, it features an interesting mechanic where you can essentially switch between two versions of the same world to unlock new pathways and interesting secrets. Add to that some solid combat and Lords of the Fallen 2023 becomes a great choice for anyone looking for a fresh Soulslike. 

Annapurna Interactive’s Ashen, a gorgeous Soulslike with stellar atmosphere, is now available on Steam, GOG, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. It originally launched for PC on the Epic Games Store as a timed exclusive, though it was also available on the Microsoft Store for PC and Xbox One. Check out the launch trailer below.

Ashen takes place in a world without a sun and tasks players with exploring its regions. Though combat and character death is similar to a Soulslike, the emphasis is on exploration. Multiplayer elements like co-op are also included as you encounter other players. Not everyone may be friendly though.

The game is available for 20 percent off until January 3rd on Steam. Alternatively, you can pick up the Definitive Edition which includes the base game and the Nightstorm Isle DLC for 19 percent off. Will we see more content in the future? Time will tell so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out our review for the game here.

A44’s Souls-like Ashen is getting some new DLC tomorrow on Xbox One and the Epic Games Store with Nightstorm Isle. The plot sees you traveling to a new location with a mother seeking her lost daughter. Of course, beyond the shores of ash lie a number of new challenges to face. Check out the trailer below.

Along with some new locations, including one with dozens of masks hanging ominously, Nightstorm Isle will also add some new enemies. There are winding caverns, fiery pits and of course, the usual foes that will pop out of nowhere to attack. This should all be familiar territory for Souls fans.

Ashen released last year for Xbox One and PC via the Epic Games Store and garnered quite a bit of acclaim for its take on the formula. It will hit GOG and Steam in December but that’s not all. Nintendo Switch and PS4 players can also get in on the action this Winter. Stay tuned for more details and check out our review for the game here.

Annapurna Interactive and indie development studio Aurora44 released their Souls-like title Ashen late last year for PC and the Xbox One (where it also released on Game Pass day and date), and it received widespread acclaim for its beautiful visuals and art style, its compelling world design, and its tight, solid combat.

Back then, focused on their Xbox One/PC launch, the developers didn’t have any plans to bring the game to any systems- but that’s changed now. Publishers Annapurna Interactive recently uploaded an accolades trailer for Ashen, highlighting some of the praise the game received from critics at launch. At the very end of the trailer, they also confirm that it’ll be coming to PS4 and Nintendo Switch (as well as GOG.com and Steam for PC players after its year-long exclusivity to the Epic Games Store) on December 9th this year.

In our review of Ashen, we opined that the game “displays an excellent understanding of what makes the Soulslike genre tick, and implements those borrowed ideas with great aplomb”, rewarding it a score of 8/10. Read our full review through here.

Inner Agent 3 – Splatoon 2 Octo Expansion

Accessible only when all 80 challenges and the final event have been cleared in the Octo Expansion, Inner Agent 3 challenges you to “surpass the hero within”. Bombs galore, an infinite ink tank, the ability to fly and bombard you from above, splashdowns with huge impact radius – Inner Agent 3 can do it all and then some. And make no mistake – all of these attacks hurt.

BELOW

 Below was in development for five years, which is a long time to wait for any game. Late in 2018, we finally got to play the game, and what a ride it was. While there’s an argument to be made that it’s difficulty can actually be a bit unfair at times, especially combined with the undeniable repetitiveness, most of the times, the game manages to find the right balance. Struggling through gruelling encounters and navigating around the many deathtraps it throws at you is as satisfying as you would expect.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/15-most-difficult-games-of-2018/feed 0 379561 https://gamingbolt.com/ashen-developer-says-the-xbox-one-x-was-incredibly-easy-to-develop-for https://gamingbolt.com/ashen-developer-says-the-xbox-one-x-was-incredibly-easy-to-develop-for#respond Thu, 13 Dec 2018 14:29:46 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=378033

A44’s beautiful Soulslike RPG Ashen is out now for Xbox One and PC, and among the several things that the game is being praised for is its bold visual aesthetic and beautiful art design. As is the case with most titles these days, Ashen also features enhancements for the Xbox One X in the form of 4K resolutions.

Recently, while speaking with Xbox Wire, A44’s Character & Animation Lead Simon Dasan and Lead Designer Mike Vermeulen spoke a bit about the indie studio’s experience with the Xbox One X, mentioning that it was a system that they found “incredibly easy” to develop for.

“To put it simply; it was incredibly easy,” the devs said about their experience with putting Ashen on Microsoft’s enhanced console. “We had the game running on the hardware the first week we received it, so we could see early on in development what the console is capable of. Because of this, we were able to start utilizing the power and potential very quickly to ensure players would experience Ashen at its best.”

According to the devs, Ashen’s 4K resolutions on the Xbox One X are its most exciting aspect, which, in their words, is something that you need to see with your own eyes. They also went on to mention that they’ve got “ideas percolating for the future”.

“Definitely the ability to render in true 4k,” they said when asked about what in the game’s Xbox One X version excites them the most. “It’s one of those ‘you need to see it to believe it’ things, and Ashen’s painterly art-style translates over to 4k in a stunning way. With the stylized nature of Ashen, we’re super excited to be able to double down on our ability to render beautiful art in true 4k. Whenever someone is playing the build on an Xbox One X, a crowd forms. We’ve already got ideas percolating for the future, so watch this space!”

Ashen launched last week for the Xbox One and PC, and it’s an excellent, beautiful game. Read our review through here to get more info on it- suffice it to say, it’s a game that you should look into, especially since it’s on Game Pass as well.