@mbun and how much is this this free update?

I wonder what new thing the Activision fire will bring today https://kotaku.com/activision-blizzard-hires-union-busting-firm-as-workers-1847386654

IGN has new Halo Infinite gameplay. Halo Infinite: Full Slayer Match on Xbox Series X Multiplayer Gameplay Youtube Video Longtime Halo YouTuber 'MintBlitz' shares his thoughts: Halo Veteran Reviews Halo Infinite Youtube Video -- We were discussing this a bit in the EZA Fantasy Critic chat (and by discussing, it was me having an "old man yells at cloud" moment), and I'd like to put together my own thoughts about it: POINT 1 - I'm too close to the series For somebody who never even owned an Xbox except for a month or so in 2011 before it bricked itself; I actually really love the Halo series. I played CE on my parents computer when that port released around 2003 or 2004. My middle school years were filled with hours of Halo 3 split-screen at my friends house. I really miss those days. I'll admit there is a nostalgia factor, but there is plenty of objectivity towards why I love those original games. All this to say, I'll admit it. I'm a bit too close to the series to be fully objective. -- POINT 2 - It looks fine I'm not blown away by it, but after my first watch and obvious disappointment with the IGN Slayer gameplay, I can take a step back and say, "Okay it's fine I guess." You'd think Microsoft would strive for higher than that, but I'll get to that later. Objectively, the gameplay looks fine enough. I think some people will like it. I think new fans will hop in and it'll feel familiar to other shooters. It's not all doom and gloom despite my personal disappointment. -- POINT 3 - FPS has reached full homogeny For better or worse, the average player can pick up any major FPS on the market and immediately know the controls, game modes, the movement, physics, and have clear expectations about the TTK. I wish more genres had this degree of commonality but I think it's seriously kneecapped the MP FPS over the past half decade. There is so little differentiation anymore. Sprint, slide, hurdle, jump; it all feels so similar. Obviously Halo Infinite would take some modern expectations but I didn't expect this to look like Apex in an arena. It is what it is. -- POINT 4 - Does Microsoft not know Halo is a legendary franchise? Sort of what Capnbobamous said last night, there was a time when every game wanted to be like Halo. Now Halo wants to be like every other game. I don't understand what 343 is going for anymore. When the God of War series in 2018 returned from it's stagnation and fall from grace, they made a video game so impactful that it won most GOTY awards and is considered one of the greatest games of all time by many. There too was a time when every Halo release felt monumental. That is why I don't understand why Microsoft is content with "good enough" or "fine" but they should return to form unequivocally with a gigantic splash and statement to say "HALO IS BACK!". Just imagine if God of War in 2018 came back and was only kinda sorta good? It's weird seeing a legendary franchise not act like it has legendary status.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions That's it.

I'm in the next gen now, baby!

Youtube Video

This may sound quite contradictory to the game's title, but when Last Stop ended I didn't want it to stop. The story is handled so intriguingly, I found the John Smith storyline to be hilarious, and that final chapter really pulls you into something you really were not expecting. I love games that take you through a whirlwind of a ride, where the ending feels totally different from the beginning-and Last Stop nails that brilliantly. Gameplay is passive and barely exists besides the minor interactions of tapping a button to answer questions or walking/running from one environment to another-as well as context sensitive cues and itty bitty mini games. Visually Last Stop is jagged but seeing how London and English customs are represented-really makes me think that Americans are going to get a trustworthy glimpse into what Britishness is in the game's own miniature depiction of it. Anyway Likes and Gripes time: Likes +Great story +John's daughter is hilarious +A decent and admirable structure and presentation Gripes -Passive and minimalistic gameplay -Looks jagged -Sweet but short Overall-7.6/10

Yeah, September's much busier. At least I don't have to choose between this and the GoT DLC next month, lol.

My exposure to Mario Kart is only with Mario Kart DS and Double Dash so I don't have any hands on with Wii. If I ever had a Wii, I probably would've had this at the time, as Mario Kart as a whole is one of the very few franchises I cared anything for as it pertains to Nintendo, but alas, another lifetime perhaps. I like the focus on bikes, and the concept of the Wii wheel is certainly the height of the peripheral craze for the Wii. Still, it's one of those games I wouldn't playing some time, but because of the hardware and age, I doubt I ever will.

"This makes PS5 the fastest-selling console in the history of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)" https://www.sie.com/en/blog/a-new-milestone-sie-sells-10-million-playstation-5-consoles-globally/

@bam541 Does it put the Carto before the horse?

Over by pandemic, the best thing is the Olympics done by japan.

No, now, it is perfect.

@demonpirate I originally did read the manga, though I did so in a less... legal way, which I never liked but short of buying each volume physically I couldn't find out how else to read it. I made it up until about halfway through Skypiea before I just got burned out. I didn't care for the arc, and it was long, so I just grew tired of it. Flash forward to a couple years later and I was missing it, and the anime was available on streaming so I just decided to hop in from the beginning. I wouldn't say it's a better experience, but I also wouldn't call it lesser than the manga. The anime has pacing issues for sure, but all of the voice actors are incredible (sub) and the music is great so I think it's a fair trade-off. Plus I'm so far behind that the fear of being behind the manga isn't there for me.

I love Monster Rise but so far Even Quests have been lacklustre, hoping this is a good one.