Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Serving as a prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain released the year after, two-hour long Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes introduced fresh stealth and traversal mechanics, manoeuvres that became staples in MGSV’s proper release. Set a few months after Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker in 1975, Ground Zeroes follows Snake’s infiltration of American black site Camp Omega as he attempts a daring rescue. Renowned for presenting newfound immersion to the series, the main complaint with Ground Zeroes is it was just too short.

Arthur Morgan – Red Dead Redemption 2

Arthur Morgan has it pretty rough. With the Wild West simmering down, his leader Dutch Van der Linde taking great risks, and various forces plotting the gang’s downfall, he’s constantly on his guard. Nevertheless, Arthur is a warm presence in the gang, keeping things together even when later discovered to be dying from tuberculosis.

In the end, after finding out that Micah has been an informant for the Pinkertons, Arthur tries to convince Dutch of the betrayal (besides also helping John Marston make his escape). Even when the latter doesn’t believe him and Arthur is riddled with sickness while fighting off Micah, he still works to protect his friends. Eventually, he dies in peace, watching the sunrise, assuming the player has high honor.

Panic Rolling

Rolling, especially in Souls games and Monster Hunter, isn’t just a quick means of repositioning. It also provides invulnerability frames, allowing you to dodge attacks. Knowing the timing of attacks is still important though, so it’s not odd to just keep rolling, rolling, rolling and hope you dodge an enemy’s attack. It looks ridiculous and is no substitute for properly learning a boss’s patterns. But on the other hand, when it works, it works.

Originally released back in September of 2010, Halo: Reach was a prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved while being developed by the same creative team of Bungie, who worked on the previous popular trilogy; bringing forth all of their signature aspects into their final outing before moving onto Destiny and beyond.

The PC port translates most of the body parts that came with Reach and the Collection that was released back in November of 2014 for the Xbox One. The entire campaign makes a beautiful comeback thanks to the added visual features that can be customized through the menu, along with the solid voice cast and memorable art direction that superbly seeped emotion through the cracks of warfare the player experienced and quite possibly experiences for the first time.

"The entire campaign makes a beautiful comeback thanks to the added visual features that can be customized through the menu, along with the solid voice cast and memorable art direction that superbly seeped emotion through the cracks of warfare the player experienced and quite possibly experiences for the first time."

Halo’s world-famous multiplayer sounds like a rightful place for the mouse and keyboard bunch, and it most certainly is – the capabilities feel fantastic with sensitivity controls and tuning possibilities that greatly change the game to a whole new literal level. My personal favorite, Firefight, feels like the first time I played it on the Xbox 360, where teaming up with three fellow Spartan players to fight off the Covenant made it seem as if I could go on for hours. And while Forge maybe absent at the moment, 343 Industries (with some much-appreciated assistance from Ruffian Games from Scotland and Splash Damage from London) bring home the first of many adventures that PC players have been patiently waiting for.

The massive team kept the blueprints of the original Reach in mind when redesigning the world for the keyboard-and-mouse crowd, optimizing and structurally mirroring the controls and overall feel and atmosphere of the Xbox release. The gameplay is simply astonishing, and there’s a wonder to why the PC port wasn’t done long ago. Everything from the insane weapons to the Ghost and Warthog gunning and handling ring familiar songs to the old school experience of teaming up with your pals, only this time it’s in 60 FPS. It stands out from the rest of the crowd because it’s grounded but not necessarily; gigantic yet it could get real personal with intense melee duels; frustrating but quite rewarding when landing that pitch-perfect headshot, all the while the announcing of Jeff Steitzer continues to pump up the chaos with “Double Kill!” “Betrayal!” and “Game Over!” blaring over the battlefield. It’s an absolute throwback that I’m content to have in my PC library.

For a quick recap on the story to whom it may concern, and notably briefly, you play as Noble-Six of Noble Team, comprised of a small band of Spartans that are deployed onto the planet of Reach, discovering only to find a Covenant invasion upon the people of the planet who seek help and rescue. Through the twelve-chapter narrative of the campaign, the events you trigger and encounter eventually lead to Master Chief’s awakening into battle (the events that lead into Combat Evolved), but before that only blood must be spilled and bullets shall be splintered through guts and sacrifice, amidst a galactic war against the Covenant and us. It’s a tale of epic proportions, and one that might even a bring a tear to one’s eye.

"Halo’s world-famous multiplayer sounds like a rightful place for the mouse and keyboard bunch, and it most certainly is – the capabilities feel fantastic with sensitivity controls and tuning possibilities that greatly change the game to a whole new literal level. "

Splash Damage senior producer George Wright commented on harmonizing the prototypical age of the games, saying that, “the games were built using older development techniques, so it’s been an interesting challenge for a lot of us used to modern AAA development to go back to the old ways,” and they’ve honestly done a wholesome job of staying true to the nature of the sound design. It’s authentic in its own way – recreating an already impressive pattern of sounds that becomes appropriately comfortable through both the campaign and multiplayer components. A few mishaps with the mixing of intertwining sound effects occur here and there, but it never intervenes with the overall universal experience for the player.

Martin O’Donnell’s composition is a staple in video game music thanks to his literal epic and heavenly – even outwardly and angelic – usage of many instruments that are featured in the campaign and the menu. With the help of some of his peers, he created a darker and more heroic mix of intense keys that musically bends both tragedy and destiny into one memorable score. Pieces such as “Winter Contingency”, “Tip of the Spear”, and even the “Epilogue” have all stuck with me throughout the years, and it was a sincere pleasure to relive those moments once more.

After some altering with the graphics settings, I was in for a quasi-remastered/copy-and-paste picture of Reach, due to the field-of-view, frames-per-second and textual level configurations I could mess around with that I couldn’t before on console. It’s marvelous to gaze upon and to become glued to. The art direction was always praise-worthy, but it’s almost a dream coming true the more I stopped and stared at the art and level design Bungie left behind for 343 for essentially replicate. With impending updates along the way, the graphics upon the PC release come to almost no fault. Small textual meshes can be seen on the grass and bases of some architectural designs depending on the player’s perspective, though it’s easy to overlook due to genuine beauty and ability to toy with the settings. In a huge way, it’s a redesign from the 2010 Xbox 360 release with a lot of passionate input in reconstructing the tools previously utilized on the older games, making it feel more at home for this special port.

"The art direction was always praise-worthy, but it’s almost a dream coming true the more I stopped and stared at the art and level design Bungie left behind for 343 for essentially replicate."

Bungie’s Halo franchise was widely known for its addicting multiplayer component back when their titles dominated the Xbox and general video game scene – the blame for countless hours being spent overnight when one couldn’t get enough Slayer action with their mates by their side. Already the game is trending on streaming websites where veterans, newbies, and all gamers in-between are clocking in countless hours into the multiplayer, reliving and making memories just like the good ole days of playing Halo. The replay value is exceptionally high in the case of Halo on PC. 343 & Co. are planning to release all of the other titles (except Halo 5) in chronological order next year of 2020, unlocking more rewards and progression stats for players eager for more Halo. The new Season addition is a welcome one to keep players hooked, and any previous stats acquired from your potential Halo Collection experience will transfer over; as soon as I logged in with my Xbox account, I was awarded with eighteen achievements thanks to already completed tasks from my Xbox One Halo days. It was quite a treat, and an exciting invitation to bring the madness onto the mouse-and-keyboard goodness.

This is truly an electrifying time for PC players who have been looking forward to the PC port ever since the announcement was made back in March. The game runs very smoothly with barely any glitches, bugs, and crashes. I can honestly say that I ran into a handful of tiny issues throughout my revisit to Reach. It’s been tested and flighted for a bit now, and the effort from the team is transparent: it’s a reconstruction from those who loved the original tales of Master Chief and those responsible for his awakening into Halo: Combat Evolved, where the home of PC shooters has held a spot for the port to join (and technically rejoin) for so long now. With Master Chief’s adventure being retold throughout the following year, Halo: Reach is a brilliant title to begin this journey with the players who perhaps couldn’t experience those legendary Halo days way back then.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection’s splintered PC launch kicked off earlier this month when Halo: Reach launched on the platform for the first time ever. It became immediately clear – thanks to the game’s high player count numbers on Steam at launch – just how successful it was, and now, we have more figures that make it even clearer.

As per Steam Charts, Halo: Reach has already sold over 1 million (and under 2 million) units on Steam, within less than a week after release. That’s an impressive figure no matter how you look at it, especially for a game that is nearly a decade old by this point. It’s also worth pointing out that these are just the Stem figures. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also available on PC via the Microsoft Store and Game Pass, so the total player count is probably much higher.

Some players have been facing issues with performance and audio, but 343 Industries are currently working on fixes. Meanwhile, the next leg of MCC’s PC launch will kick off early next year, when a beta for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary goes live.

GENICHIRO ASHINA – TUTORIAL FIGHT (SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE)

Basically every boss fight in Sekiro can be a hopeless one depending on what kind of a player you are, but the tutorial boss fight against Genichiro Ashina in the opening minutes of the game is actually hopeless. It’s designed as a super-tough encounter, so the average player simply cannot get past it, and losing the fight leads to a a story cutscene where the Wolf’s arm gets cut off. It is technically possible to defeat Genichiro in this encounter, but all this does is give you a slightly altered cutscene, where your arm still ends up getting cut off.

Wattam

Of course it would be Katamari Damacy director Keita Takahashi making Wattam. How else could you explain the premise of walking around the world, befriending rocks, open mouths, trees and toilets to join hands and create melodies? It’s all quite whimsical in motion and gives Wattam a dream-like yet still unorthodox feel. Look for the game to release on December 17^th for PS4 and PC.

Phoenix Point

Phoenix Point is an important title for many tactical turn-based fans. For some, it could be their next big game after XCOM with its factions, evolving enemies and lasting psychological system for its soldiers. For others, it’s a true spiritual successor to the original X-COM games from creator Julian Gollop, offering the next step forward in the tactical strategy war against aliens. With terrifying foes, intriguing mechanics and a tense setting, Phoenix Point releases on December 3^rd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Halo: Reach (PC/Xbox One)

Finally, we get to remember Reach as it should be – in gorgeous 4K resolution and 60 FPS. 343 Industries’ Halo: Reach comes to PC on December 3^rd with its memorable campaign and hefty multiplayer modes like Firefight and Invasion (with Forge and Theater coming in 2020). For Xbox One players, Reach will round out Halo: The Master Chief Collection but for PC players, it kick-starts the collection’s release on PC. Whether you’re a fan of the series or not, Halo: Reach’s arrival next week is a momentous occasion.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries

It’s seemingly the month of nostalgia and MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is a long time coming. As the first mainline title in the franchise since MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries in 2002, MechWarrior 5 offers combat in large hulking mechs with highly customizable parts. Taking part during the Third Succession War, various factions will be vying for supremacy, allowing you to take contracts and cement your legacy. MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is out on December 10^th for PC.

Terminator Resistance

Teyon’s new Terminator shooter is an…odd title. It’s set in the year 2028 with the world decimated by Skynet’s robot incursions. You’ll battle through hordes of machines, killing and leveling up while also potentially altering the fates of those around you. What’s odd about the whole ordeal is that despite seeing significant criticism, the game has a rather positive rating on outlets like Steam. We’ll see how the console versions fare when they release on December 10^th for North America.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York

Before venturing into the RPG-heavy Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, why not visit the Coteries of New York instead? Developed by Draw Distance, Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York is a text-based adventure centered around two factions – the Camarilla and Anarchs. Depending on one’s clan and choices, there will be unique dialogue opportunities and powers, ultimately influencing the game’s outcome. The title is out for PC on December 11^th but also releases on Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch in Q1 2020.

Darksiders Genesis

And now for something completely different from the Darksiders franchise. Developed by Airship Syndicate, Darksiders Genesis is an isometric action hack and slash title that takes place before the first game. Horsemen Strife and War are on a quest to stop Lucifer from empowering the forces of Hell and that means lots of slicing and shooting. Co-op is included but solo players can switch between either Horseman at any time while taking advantage of various upgrades. Releasing on December 5^th worldwide for PC and Google Stadia, Darksiders Genesis looks to offer a fun 15 hours or so of adventure.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey (Xbox One/PS4)

Panache Digital Games’ Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey didn’t get the most rousing reception when it first released on PC. However, there have been updates and improvements overtime, making this tale of evolution and survival more tenable. As part of a primate clan in the prehistoric age, you’ll be climbing trees, exploring the world, hunting, and even avoiding predators. All of this feeds into your experience and evolution as you journey across eight million years of history. Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey arrives on December 6^th for Xbox One and PS4.

Life is Strange 2: Episode 5

Dontnod Entertainment’s fifth and final episode for Life is Strange 2 is out next month, bringing the adventure of the brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz to an end. This is always a pivotal moment for fans of the series, since it allows for experiencing the entire adventure from start to finish without any delays. It’s been a wild journey since the two initially fled Seattle en route to their father’s hometown in Mexico. How could things get any stranger? Episode 5 is out on December 3^rd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC so it won’t be long before we find out.

Arise: A Simple Story

Arise: A Simple Story is another dream-like adventure game but one that explores the memories of two individuals across shifting landscapes and seasons. As a puzzle adventure title, players will have the ability to manipulate time, altering the environment as they see fit. While there’s still a lot we don’t know, Arise’s art-style looks great and the story has strong emotional potential. It’s out on December 3^rd for PS4 and PC.

Halo has finally made its way back to the PC with Halo: Reach leading the charge. The game also found its way onto Steam, and by all accounts it seems to have been quite a success. However, the success story is a tad undercut as the port has a variety of issues that’s been reported. It seems 343 is on the case, though, and is looking into fixes.

In a lengthy post via the Halo Waypoint, the developer revealed they were investigating the issues and listed out what they saw as the biggest complaints such as audio issues, shuttering issues, menu performance, and a host of others that you can read about at the aforementioned blog post. While there’s unfortunately no time frame as to when we can see fixes, they’ve done a good job cataloging the many issues. Hopefully, that’s a good sign for continued support.

Halo: Reach is available now on PC via The Master Chief Collection, with other games in the collection slated to come soon.

Halo: Reach is out now on PC, marking the game’s debut on the platform, the series’ return to PC in many years, and the first time a Halo game’s been released on Steam, ever. And though you’d think that the launch of a nearly decade old game might not be met with too much fanfare, Reach has enjoyed a very successful debut on Steam.

Yesterday, the day of its launch, Halo: Reach broke into the top rungs of the most played games on Steam for the day, with a peak concurrent player count of 161,024 players. At the time of writing, the game has a player count of 60,654, sitting below the links of PUBG, DOTA 2, Destiny 2, and GTA 5.  Halo: The Master Chief Collection is also currently the best-selling game on Steam. Meanwhile, the individual Halo: Reach is No. 2 in that list.

It’s in stark contrast to the miserable launch The Master Chief Collection suffered on the Xbox One back in 2014, and goes to show the work 343 Industries have done to turn things around for the PC release.

Next year, the next part of the collection’s PC launch – Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary – will be receiving a beta.

Halo Infinite is coming, and Microsoft is hoping that it will define the future of the franchise for years to come. But there’s nothing wrong with taking a look back to the rich history of the series. Halo: Reach is making its way to PC along with the rest of the series and now you can get an idea of what kind of rig you’ll need.

Since Reach is a tad on the older side, the requirements for the PC port isn’t too out there. 8 GB of RAM is recommended for all settings with Intel i7-8750H or AMD Ryzen 7 2700U and Intel UHD Graphics 630 or Radeon Vega 10 for the most minimum specs with  i5-3450 and GTX 770 for the maximum settings. You can check out the full chart below.

Halo: Reach is available now on PC. The PC version will allow players to bypass anti-cheat for mods, so those gaming on PC will have a lot of to potentially play with.